HEADQUARTERS BUILDING DENTAL SERVICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002400170007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 19, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

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RC~L1T1i'+IG ADD ~?C~RD S~l~?T
James N. Glerum
Director of Personnel
5E-58 .Headquarters
TO: (OfAter designation,' room number, and
buildin9J
'..Executive: Registry,'
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
z 1 0 CT 193
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw o line across column after each comment.)
'E We-have reviewed with the
irector, OMS the proposal that:=a
Executive.Director
..joint conclusion that this is no
eadquarters Building. It is our.
dental office be provided .in tfie
a necessary or desirable course'of:'
'action. The attached memorandum - -_
.documents the information which
~ e considered on this subject.
FARM 6 ~' 1 USE PREVIOUS
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Distribution: ~
Original -Addressee
1 -Executive Registry
1 - D/Pers
. 1 - DD/Pers/SP
1-
DD/Pers/S (20 October 1982)
.STAY
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NOTE FOP.: DD/Pers/SP
SUBJECT: Headquarters Building Dental Service
1. Regarding the attached suggestion that a dental office be located
in the Headquarters building, you asked that I explore this with the Office
of D~edical Services. I have done so and also informally queried State's
Overseas Aledical Plan office. Information obtained from theses contacts
follows.
2. Office of D7edical Services. Dr. Ingram was most helpful and
knowledgeable on the subject. Before addressing the suggestion itself he
briefly discussed the dental screening programs that both our Agency and
.State have been conducting in conjunction with medical examinations for
overseas assignment. ZtTith respect to our own program, he indicated that it
was not proving very cost effective and would probably be phased out in
the near future. Based on a quick estimate (as opposed to consulting of
actual data) only 20 to 40 of those examined were found to have conditions
necessitating care. (This was true of both those going to and returning
from overseas.) Interest in having dental work done decreases significantly
when -it is explained that treatment will be at the individual's expense
rather than paid for by the Agency. Examinations were made by a semi-retired
dentist hired on a contract basis. The dental screening program at State
operates in a similar manner but with examining facilities provided by
their P~ledical Staff for several practicing dentists engaged on part-time
contracts. This has been the source of some criticism of their program.
Some people have expressed the opinion that these dentists are using their
screening duties to build their private practice by identifying work-not
really necessary and suggesting it be done by them in their private offices.
In speaking specifically to the points raised in the attached suggestion,
Dr. Ingram raised several concerns. They can be summarized as follows:
--Having a dental office on site could create a problem with the
Dental Association, since some dentists might claim tmfair
competition on the basis of the Agency subsidizing (real or
perceived) a private practice. Some rivate dental practices
are falling off from Iacl: of work, (copy attached) states
the mission of the -0ffice of i-ledica ervices. Paragraph 5 states
"OMS shall not operate in competition with private physicians."
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--It is doubtful if a practice in this building limited to Agency
employees could support a full-time dentist. This would make it
impossible to "hire"'or retain a dentist unless his/her down time
were subsidized by the Agency. There is no authority for such
a subsidy. If there were, it would impact on the previous item.
--OD~tS has na authority to do anything but screening examinations and
emergency treatment. With respect to emergency dental treatment,
there are extremely few of them, in the main having to do with first
aid to trauma.
--1~1ost people interested in regular dental care already have a
family dentist. It is unlikely that they tiaould change dentists
just for the sake of saving travel time to and from appointments.
--Related to the previous item, Dr. Ingram volunteered that many
people sterotype "government doctors" as less professional or
-- knowledgeable than those not associated with government. He feels
some of that attitude might also prevail with respect to an in-house
dentist.
3. De artment of State Overseas Tledical Pro ram. The State Department
conducts a ental screening program in connection with their medical assessment
of employees and dependents for overseas service, as mentioned earlier in
this note. They do not provide any dental treatment, either in or outside
their buildings. Conditions identified as needing correction are done at the
individuals election by a private dentist of his/her choice. It was interesting
to note, however, that State has under consideration the possibility of having
some roving dentists overseas who would visit embassies for purpose of
examinations and advice on dental concerns. It is uncertain to what extent,.
if any, they would perform routine or minor dental care.
4. Pentagon. An even more informal in uiry was made of a
civilian employee at the Pentagon He
informed us that a dental clinic does exist in the Pentagon but t at it is
only for military personnel, their dependents, and, on space available basis,
retired military personnel. No services are extended to civilians.
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5. From this initial xeview, it appears that the attached suggestion
would be breaking new ground in the area of services or benefits for Federal
employees. It also appears such a venture would not be without its pitfalls.
Should further consideration be given to the suggestion, I believe we should
explore the legal aspects of it with the Office of General Counsel. Finally,
while I don't want to be totally negative on this issue, there is the
consideration of space. The attached memo from the DDA to the Director of
Logistics regarding !'Allocation of Non-Office Space" is not encouraging.
Attachments
As Stated
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