Crossborder dental care an EU project

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Crossborder dental care an EU project
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Karesuando Swedens northernmost dental clinic
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Only a bridge separates Sweden from Finland
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Common problems

• Long travel distances to dentists
• Recruiting difficulties
• Too small a patient base on either side of the
  border

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Extent of project

• 04-12-2002 31-12-2004
• Public Dental Service in the County Council of
  Norrbotten in collaboration with the
  Municipality Union of Muonio and Enontekiö

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Project group

• Klas Tunbrå, managing director, Public Dental
  Service, Sweden
• Stefan Ahrner, financial manager, Public Dental
  Service, Sweden
• Matti Kinnula, chief medical officer, Finland
• Aira Autto, senior dentist, Finland
• Anna Marakatt, project manager, Public Dental
  Service, Sweden

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A project financed by the EU

• The project received a grant of 110,000 from
  Interreg III A Nord
• (2.2 cross-border regional and local resource
  mobilisation)

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Main objectives

• Setting up a dental clinic in Karesuando,
  treating both Finnish and Swedish patients
• Improving the quality of life for the residents
  of the region
• Improving dental care for the inhabitants
• Cutting costs through cross-border cooperation
• Minimising travel for patients and staff
• Strengthening regional development

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Target group

• The population of Karesuando, Sweden (approx.
  1,200 patients, of which 400 are children.)
• The population of Karesuanto and Kilpisjärvi,
  Finland (approx. 400 patients, of which 90 are
  children.)

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Border regional significance

• This is a pilot project that, in the long term,
  will lead to cross-border projects within the
  public service sector in other areas.

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Activities

• Recruiting of dentists
• Informing the residents
• Swedish staff getting work experience in a
  Finnish clinic
• Finding procedures for a shared administration
• Investigating how the legislation in both
  countries might affect the operation

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What has happened so far

• The project was launched in September 2003
• Dentist and dental hygienist have been recruited
• The project manager has worked in a Finnish
  dental clinic
• Finding procedures for a shared administration is
  under way

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Financing
Project budget approx. 171,000
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Cross-border digital dental care next project

• 01-01-2005 31-12-2006
• Finnish and Swedish systems on the same computer