There’s something about mountains that brings out the best in Michael Molvar, D.D.S.
Whether climbing Mt. Rainier or helping develop procedures to assure patient confidentiality, Dr. Molvar believes in taking it one careful step at a time. “I’ve climbed a lot of mountains,” he said. “Climbing is something I thoroughly enjoy, not so much to get to the top, but for the process of the climb and the people you climb with as a team.”
It’s the same attitude he applies to his varied responsibilities as assistant dean and quality officer at the UNMC College of Dentistry.
“Climbing a mountain looks really difficult when you look at it from the bottom,” he said. Similarly, an assignment at work may seem overwhelming, until one breaks the job into pieces, digs in and works deliberately to complete it.
“You get it done by starting to do it,” he said.
Tackling HIPAA
Dr. Molvar is the latest recipient of the Chancellor’s Gold “U” Award for his efforts to help UNMC meet requirements of the new federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA. “He has gone above and beyond in support of the project,” said one nominator.
Dr. Molvar created campus-wide training materials and provided valuable and timely feedback on the project. Said another nominator: “He was very flexible in adopting policies to fit the needs of a college where a majority of the operations are geographically separated from the main UNMC campus.”
|
|
Dr. Molvar credits others
Dr. Molvar said it is Sharon Welna and Sheila Wrobel who deserve recognition and gratitude. “They are the ones who led our compliance efforts,” he said. “The medical center worked very hard, under Sharon and Shelia, to comply with all aspects of HIPAA with the least amount of intrusion on providers and patients possible. They did an exceptionally good job of getting us there.”
Dr. Molvar said HIPAA, which went into effect April 14, mandates and provides enforcement for what health care providers have long valued – the privacy of patient’s medical information – putting regulations and a body of law behind what had been voluntary. “It has placed a very large emphasis on privacy and confidentiality,” he said. While the medical center has always been attentive to the issue, HIPAA has made it pay even greater attention, he said, adding, “You can’t be too good about patient confidentiality.”
From Washington to Nebraska
A native of Washington, where he honed his skills at snow and ice climbing, Dr. Molvar received his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College, his dental degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in restorative dentistry from the University of Michigan.
Wearing many hats
Dr. Molvar’s other responsibilities include patient services, infection control, risk management and outcomes assessment, an annual undertaking required for accreditation and to help the college determine its strengths and weaknesses. “I can objectively say we are an exceptionally good dental school, and our data proves it,” he said.
He also has begun work on a long-term project to convert patient records at the college from paper files to electronic files, a complex task he believes will lead to even more secure records, more efficient record keeping and greater learning opportunities for students. And he takes great pride in the college’s new $1.8 million Central Sterilization and Dispensing Area, a project in which he was closely involved.
Dental care for underserved children, adults
Another issue of importance to Dr. Molvar is dental care for underserved children and adults. He recently was recognized by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department for helping patients in need obtain dental care and for serving on a steering committee to establish the People’s Health Center, a federally funded community health center in Lincoln. “It is important as a profession that we try to provide care for underserved people and that we model that for our dental students,” he said. “In the long-range view, this is as important as anything I’ve ever done.”
Avid user of electronics
Fond of electronics, Dr. Molvar makes appointments and keeps track of his schedule all electronically and uses the Internet and e-mail almost exclusively for correspondence. He has written Blackboard courses for students and staff on a variety of subjects, including infection control. He also offers an Introduction to Clinic course through Blackboard.
“I recognize the value of electronic systems available to us,” he said, but added that he is only an avid user, not a computer whiz in the “vanguard of development.”
Dr. Molvar’s family
Dr. Molvar and his wife, Rosemary, an elementary school principal, have a blended family of four grown children and two grandsons.