Diane Brucato-thomas This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. HDHA.org | About Us

   www.hdha.org/about.htm - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/21/2008   Last Visited: 7/21/2008

   DIANE BRUCATO-THOMAS President-Elect
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   DIANE BRUCATO-THOMAS Delegate

2. 2. Hawaii Institute for Wellness in Dentistry

   www.hawaii-institute.com - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/15/2003   Last Visited: 7/15/2003

   The Hawai'i Institute for Wellness in Dentistry was founded in 1994 by Diane Brucato-Thomas, RDH, EF, BS in order to increase access to outstanding continuing education for dental health care professionals on the island of Hawaii and thereby, raise the standard level of dental care for the people.
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   Diane Brucato-Thomas, RDH, EF, BS, founder of the Hawai'i Institute for Wellness in Dentistry has been a Dental Hygienist for over twenty years.She has served as an Anesthesia Examiner for the Western Regional Examining Board; a Recorder for the Hawaii State Board of Dental Examiners; Representative on the Advisory Committee and Clinical Instructor for Northern Arizona University Dental Hygiene Department; and Vice President for the Arizona State Dental Hygienists' Association.Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association awarded her "1999 Outstanding Member of the Year and, in 2000, she became the first recipient of the "Rosie Wall Community Spirit Grant" from ADHA Institute for Oral Health.Presently, Diane is serving as Vice President of the Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association and is honored to be a recipient of the "2002 RDH Magazine/John O. Butler GUM Healthy Smile Healthy Life Award of Distinction" for her philosophy of patient care.Diane is passionate about periodontics, treating clients with a "whole-person" approach.
   
   Experienced in facilitation, Diane is a Training Associate for Family Community Leadership.Diane also delights in creative writing.As a writer, she captures rich family history in poems and short stories, and has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Fourth Course and Love is the Best Medicine for Dental Patients and the Dental Team.A gifted storyteller, Diane continues to enrich the lives of people of all ages.
   
   In 1992, Diane moved from Arizona to Hawaii.She studies Hula, enjoys bicycling, backpacking and hiking.Diane's husband is a retired pharmacist and her fifteen-year-old son, a unicycling fire juggler!

3. 3. RDH - Confessions of a ‘heretic’

   dem.pennnet.com/display_articl - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/1/2007   Last Visited: 2/9/2007

   Diane Thomas
   
   Does it have to be like this?What happens when the hygienist, dentist and office staff must gather necessary patient data, present the patient with alternative treatment plans, and create an individualized patient plan?What happens is discussed in Diane Thomas' program titled, "Confessions of a Hygiene Heretic: Confronting Dental Hygiene Dogma."
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   During the program, Diane takes the hygienist and patient through comprehensive periodontal evaluation and data collection.Discussion centers on building trusting relationships with patients by listening.
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   Diane then empowers the patient to choose which treatment options are best for his or her needs and lifestyle.Once this is decided, the hygienist must know how to create the appropriate treatment plan.Diane presents a worksheet that includes medical considerations, risk factors and oral findings, length of appointments, treatment to be provided at each appointment and time between appointments.Also, the total fee for service is provided for the patient, including insurance information if appropriate, so there are no surprises.
   
   Diane discusses how the hygienist can present case fees in a way that will develop the patient/hygienist relationship and empower the patient to choose the best level of care.In her discussions with course participants, Diane uses actual cases and techniques that have worked for her.She also includes her top five tips for improving patient compliance.
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   Diane is qualified as an Area Clinical Specialist for DentalView (the company that manufactures Perioscopy) to train clinicians in its use.
   
   Diane began this program because the subject has been a passion of hers since she was a surgical assistant in the mid 1970s in Scottsdale, Ariz.She received extensive training as an expanded function periodontal therapist in Arizona, and was a member of Qualitat Institute for Dental Hygiene where she learned the business aspect of conservative periodontal therapy.In 2002, Diane received the Sunstar Butler/RDH magazine Healthy Gums, Healthy Life Award of Distinction.
   
   While reviewing hers and the other winner's patient tips for compliance, Diane realized she had a unique approach to patient care.She is the founder of the Hawaii Institute for Wellness in Dentistry and has organized continuing education courses for years, yet she never felt qualified to present them until friends and mentors pushed her.A professional storyteller and former professional dancer, Diane blends these interests into her presentation style.
   
   Diane is an active member of ADHA and has served in various capacities on the state and national level, and is a member of the American Academy of Dental Hygiene and serves on its governing council.
   
   As mentor Avrom King said, "Skills can be taught, our gifts we are born with."Diane was born with the ability to lead and organize continuing education seminars.She began to recognize this quality the first day of summer after her first grade, when Diane told her friends she'd organize a club."Club members will study math and spelling so we won't forget them during the summer," she said.Her friends ran off the porch as fast as they could.
   
   No one is running away from Diane today, who has found her niche expanding the horizons of hygienists who are eager to learn.