A lot can happen in a year. Just ask P. Michael Schelkun, M.D., D.D.S.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Centers, the practice Dr. Schelkun has been leading since 1991, recently underwent a thoughtfully orchestrated transformation, including the addition of a breathtaking new facility in Newtown to complement its existing surgical centers in Warminster and Fort Washington. The practice’s clinical staff has evolved as well. Mark P. Kienle, M.D., D.M.D., M.B.A., who joined the practice in July 2013, officially became a partner to help guide the practice into the future. Likewise, Andrew R. Steinkeler, M.D., D.M.D., has joined the practice as the third member of a highly skilled surgical team.
“Our goal is to consistently provide outstanding patient care and continually expand the services we offer,” says Dr. Schelkun. “We had that goal firmly in mind with everything we have accomplished in the past year.”
Reinvention is nothing new to the practice, which has been specializing in wisdom-teeth removal and dental implants since Lewis J. Schwartz, D.M.D., founded the practice in 1967. Although dental implant surgery and the removal of impacted wisdom teeth remain areas of expertise, the enterprise has become a comprehensive oral and maxillofacial surgical practice, with expertise in facial reconstructive surgery and other procedures of the head and neck, including oral pathology.
Room to Explore
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Centers’ newest surgical center in Newtown is perhaps the most visible change to the practice’s DNA. The new facility is located within a distinctive office complex designed as an “indoor neighborhood,” with charmingly named suites—“Suite Dreams,” in the case of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Centers—occupied by individual practices rooted in dental health.
Upon entering the building, visitors follow a cobblestone pathway to the surgical suite with its own welcome area mimicking a front porch. Surrounding the suite are several common areas, including an indoor tree house, flat-screen TVs and game consoles with interactive touch screens, as well as rocking chairs—in other words, thoughtful comforts designed to relax patients prior to their appointments or to entertain family members while waiting for their loved ones to receive care. The campus even has an outdoor patio, complete with lounge chairs, for visitors to enjoy in nicer weather. In the words of Dr. Kienle, it’s “unlike any dental or medical facility I’ve ever seen.”
“Our surgery center in Newtown offers another convenient location to provide care in such a strong, energetic community,” he says. “Children and adults alike will enjoy discovering and exploring the space. Just like our other two facilities, the practice itself is cutting edge, including digital radiology, comprehensive anesthesia options and fully electronic medical charts and records. Also, like our other two surgery centers, the Newtown location is fully accredited by the Joint Commission.”
This accreditation is critically important, as it essentially assures patients that they are receiving the highest standard of care and safety. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Centers has been accredited through the Joint Commission since 1997, and it remains one of only two oral and maxillofacial surgical practices in the state of Pennsylvania to have earned such accreditation.
In order to qualify for accreditation, a practice must voluntarily submit to a rigorous onsite review by a Joint Commission surveyor, who assesses the practice’s performance in areas such as emergency management, medication management and infection prevention and control, as well as information management, human resources and leadership. The process also provides instruction and suggestions so accredited U.S. hospitals and surgical centers can further improve upon these individual metrics.
“This is the same governing body that certifies hospitals to perform anesthesia, so we’re held to the same accountability and safety standards,” adds Dr. Steinkeler. “Everything we do here is to ensure safety and deliver a great experience to our patients, from the front desk staff to the clinical staff, and I think that’s one of the things that set us apart.”
Onsite technology represents another defining characteristic. High-resolution cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), for example, helps the surgeons place dental implants with the utmost confidence. The CBCT scanner provides a three-dimensional assessment of a potential implant site, as well as other important aspects of a patient’s anatomy, thereby increasing the likelihood of success. It also exposes a patient to significantly reduced radiation when compared with traditional X-rays or CT scans.
Although such technology can be incredibly valuable in achieving favorable surgical outcomes, Dr. Steinkeler believes the practice’s most valuable asset may very well be its people.
“All of our staff members go above and beyond to assist patients, whether it’s someone helping out with [a patient’s] insurance company, scheduling appointments or someone from the clinical staff picking up a phone to answer a question, the entire staff is amazing,” he says. “Our clinical staff is ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) trained, and I think the level of safety we provide in pre- and postoperative care is the best you will find anywhere.”
Making an Impact
Dr. Steinkeler, a native of Falmouth, Maine, received his undergraduate degree, from Tufts University in Boston with a double major in biology and Spanish. (Truly bilingual, he is fluent in written and spoken Spanish.) He then went on to earn his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, followed by his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Along the way he amassed a number of prestigious honors, awards and scholarships, including the Theodore Blum Oral Surgery Award (2009), the Martin J. Loeb Leadership Award (2009) and inclusion in Alpha Omega Alpha (2012), an honor society reserved for the top 10 students of a graduating medical school class. He has become a tremendous asset since joining the practice in July 2015.
“This was the top practice I had wanted to join after completing my residency training [in oral and maxillofacial surgery],” says Dr. Steinkeler, who trained alongside Dr. Kienle at the University of Pennsylvania. “I always enjoyed doing general dentistry, but once I started doing oral and maxillofacial surgery as part of my regular rotations, I developed a love for the specialty. I like the impact you can have on a person’s life. When you’re treating someone for facial trauma or any kind of disturbance or deformity of the jaw, you not only improve their functional outcomes but their aesthetic outcomes as well.”
Dr. Kienle, too, has had a rather remarkable year, having taken a more active role in practice management. In addition, he has increased his teaching duties at Abington Memorial Hospital by providing instruction to residents in the oral surgery clinic. Of personal note, he also completed the rigorous, two-year process of becoming board certified by the American Board of Maxillofacial Surgery, underscoring his mastery in all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Kienle considers the board certification “an accomplishment well worth pursuing,” and many patients regard it as a mark of excellence.
“It’s been a busy year for us as a practice,” he says. “My transition to partner has allowed me to apply my business background in exciting, new ways. The addition of our Newtown facility has been a great success that gives our patients additional choices to receive care in a truly one-of-a-kind facility that must be seen in person. We are, of course, thrilled to have Dr. Steinkeler join our group. He’s already made great strides by providing excellent care with a compassionate and friendly touch that patients have really appreciated.
“When you consider everything we’ve done in the past year or so,” he continues, “you see that a lot of new and exciting things are happening here.”
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Centers
www.omscenters.com
Three Area Locations:
158 York Road
Warminster, PA 18974
215-672-6560
46 Blacksmith Road, Suite Dreams
Newtown, PA 18940
215-579-1525
467 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 106
Fort Washington, PA 19034
215-591-3590
Photograph by Allure West Studios
