September 8, 2006

Helping Hands Relieve Aching Mouth

Public Health Nurse Jackie Zinnel, R.N., knew within minutes that the man on the phone with the Panhandle Health District needed help. He had no job or any type of health insurance. He’d tried to pull his loose front tooth on his own because it stopped him from eating. He hadn’t eaten solid food in two days. Jackie asked if he thought it was infected.

      “We try to triage on the phone call to see if we can help,” she says. “It’s worth their time to come in here if we can.”

        The man was nearby and walked to the health district. His low-income status qualified him for a voucher for health services through the Helping Hands program. Helping Hands keeps a list of about 67 medical providers in Kootenai County who donate services in varying amounts for low-income people with no insurance. The man with the loose front tooth received a Helping Hands voucher for a tooth extraction.

       Jackie checked the man’s tooth, then began calling dentists on the Helping Hands list. Some couldn’t get him in for a week, but he needed immediate help. Jackie called until one office offered to treat him right away.

       “They trust our triage,” Jackie says.

        A day or two later, the man called Jackie at the Panhandle Health District again.

        “He said he was able to eat. He thanked me,” she says, smiling.

        Helping Hands and the Panhandle Health District are United Way-supported programs that work together for the community’s better health. They’re a winning team.

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