Quality Over Quantity: The Future of Healthcare and Medicaid

In this episode of Dentalish, we welcome back Tamika Sheley, a seasoned dental hygienist, entrepreneur, and patient advocate. It's been a while since she last joined us—back in 2020, to be exact—so I was excited to catch up and hear about her journey since then. Tamika has been making waves in the dental and healthcare community, and I wanted to tap into her wealth of knowledge, especially regarding her entrepreneurial ventures and her role in public health.

Tamika shares insights into her recent endeavor: a black car service she started with her husband. With his extensive logistics experience and her background in dental hygiene and healthcare management, they have successfully blended their skills to create a thriving business. We discuss the challenges and rewards of working alongside a partner, both personally and professionally, and how they maintain balance through regular business and family meetings.

As we dive deeper into her career, Tamika reveals that she is currently in a non-clinical role with a managed care organization in Georgia. She reflects on her journey as a dental hygienist, having practiced for over 22 years, and how her current position allows her to focus on quality care and community engagement. We touch on the evolving landscape of healthcare, particularly in Georgia, and the implications of recent legislative changes on Medicaid and public health services.

Tamika also emphasizes the importance of supporting young people of color in pursuing careers in dentistry, sharing her own experiences of overcoming obstacles to enter hygiene school. Her passion for mentorship and advocacy shines through as she discusses the need for more resources and opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field.

Towards the end of our conversation, we explore the significance of self-care and personal growth. Tamika shares her personal mantra, "what's for you is for you," and encourages listeners to prioritize their well-being. We also discuss the importance of looking presentable and feeling good, even when working from home, as it can significantly impact one's mood and productivity.

Finally, Tamika provides information about her transportation business, TRL Upscale Transportation, and how it caters to various events, including winery tours. She invites listeners to connect with her on social media to learn more about her services.

Join us for this enlightening episode filled with valuable insights, personal anecdotes, and a reminder that we are more than just our professional titles. Whether you're a dental professional, an entrepreneur, or someone looking for inspiration, there's something in this episode for everyone.

Transcript

Introduction to Tamika Sheely

Speaker 1 0:00

Welcome back to Dental-ish season . This is episode four and we are here with Tamika Sheely . She is a dental hygienist entrepreneur , patient advocate , public health advocate and she's been a Brown Girl IDH member for quite some time and I just wanted to invite her as a podcast guest because she has a lot of ins and outs with her entrepreneurship , started her company and she works for one of the big group Medicaid companies here in Georgia . So just , we wanted to get some insights on how that works , how public health works , how things are going to be changing with all the new laws that have been passed , like the big beautiful bill , and I was just curious to get her on here and just use her as a resource for any dentists or dental hygienists or business owners who may be listening . So welcome to dental ish tamika . How are you ?

Speaker 2 0:55

I'm doing great . I appreciate you inviting me back . You were on here before like 2020 . I believe it was a long time ago , oh my goodness , Are you serious ?

Speaker 1 1:06

Okay , that's three hosts , but you know people's schedule cannot align . I was like the show must go on .

Speaker 2 1:16

The show must go on . It was you and Chris who were on at that time . The third person , I guess , was not on that .

Speaker 1 1:25

Oh , okay , okay , Okay , okay , okay , yeah , we had . We had three people . That's so funny , I did not remember . Like my mind , it's just a very selective , so anyways , well , welcome back . You started about a year ago , or maybe two years now you started your own transportation company . How's that going ?

Speaker 2 1:42

Yeah , yeah . So it's been a little over a year . My husband and I we started a black car service . My husband , he , has over 20 years of logistics experience as a Navy

Launching a Black Car Service

Speaker 2 1:54

veteran and in civilian life . So with my background in dental hygiene you know we are very detail oriented and my background in healthcare management , it has been the best of both worlds . It's been an exciting venture to blend both of our talents and , to you know , work with your partner professionally and personally , which I'm sure you get some of that as well . You know there can be challenges with both , but we are loving it . We are growing , growing as an entrepreneur , and that and this world is all new to me , yeah .

Speaker 1 2:33

OK , so have you found out , have you found to have a medium balance with you know , working hygiene , kids , have you found that balance with the transportation or your husband kind of , just kind of taken over ?

Speaker 2 2:44

So it's definitely a balance we have . We have business meeting once a week and we have our personal family meetings once a week , so that has actually helped . As long as we we stay on board . You know we're communicating with each other . You know , as I think as a as a wife , as a mom In my mind , I told my husband something . As I think as a wife , as a mom , in my mind , I told my husband something , but I really didn't tell him . So having those meetings and sticking to them has been very helpful with us .

Speaker 1 3:16

My God , I'm going to use that because I be confused all the time . Don't ask somebody else to add third party and add two different people doing the same thing . You know , when it comes to business , it's like , especially when working with your spouse , it's like , oh my goodness , well , I guess we'll figure this out now , but absolutely , and are you , are you doing clinical practice ? Are you just outside working for a care store ?

Speaker 2 3:40

I am only practicing to keep my licensure . You know I feel like I work so hard to get a license as a hygienist but I only temp occasionally with the company . The managed care organization I work for have sponsored the dental days and so I volunteer for that . But in my mind when I initially got a non-clinical role I was like , oh , I'm going to temp all the time and it hasn't been so much so , but really just to keep keep my licensure .

Speaker 1 4:13

OK , OK , OK . You see you holding on to that license . You might be holding back . You could have a billion dollar company by now .

Speaker 2 4:23

But you're like oh , let me just keep this license . I mean , I remember when you said , I think about two years ago , you were like hmm , I think you were just , you were done , you let it go .

Speaker 1 4:34

Yeah , I just , I don't know , just in case , Just in case I'm like no other options , no other options , we're not going back . But that's so funny that you said that , because I actually let my North Carolina license go , not my Georgia license . So I actually I do have a Georgia license still and I do keep that one active . So how long have you been practicing anyway for hygiene ?

Speaker 2 4:59

I have been a hygienist for 22 years . So I graduated in 2003 from Clayton State University in Georgia . We were the first

Balancing Hygiene and New Ventures

Speaker 2 5:12

bachelor's program which we were like guinea pigs because it was rough , yeah , so full-time non-clinical has been about four years , okay , and where do you work at ? So I work for a managed care organization in Georgia . We are a nonprofit and basically I've learned so much as far as healthcare and quality of care , you know .

Speaker 2 5:41

So one of the reasons why I wanted to , I was feeling burnt out as a hygienist . It's like the more you give , the more the company wants . And I get it . I get that . You know we have to be profitable but we're doing hygienists are doing so much more in that one hour block .

Speaker 2 6:01

So my current role I'm a healthcare partner network manager , which , honestly , I wasn't even looking for a new role . I was trying to grow in the role . I was a itero integration specialist for DSO , so it kind of fell in my lap . But it's been one of the best decisions of my career , just blending my passion for health care and having a broader understanding of quality and the appreciation for NCQA standards , again as a hygienist just seeing and it's not just hygiene , it's health care in general . My optometrist talked about him seeing more and more patients in a short amount of periods . It's just where we are in the world . But I love being able to have that flexibility of working from home but also being able to connect with the community down to your office and just having that opportunity as well , because I do miss that part working at home . Working from home is a big transition from being a full-time hygienist .

Speaker 1 7:14

Well , you have a lot of opportunity to counter that with your business . So working with federally qualified health centers and managed care organizations , what does that look like ? How does that change ? You know the climate is changing , laws are changing . Like what does that change for Georgia

Working in Managed Care Organizations

Speaker 1 7:32

? Is adult Medicaid going to go away ? I know , you know . I asked my cousin , chad GPT is adult Medicaid going to go away ? They're like , if so , it probably wouldn't be the children's portion , it probably would be the adult plans .

Speaker 2 7:43

I mean within the past two years , they actually had . I was so happy that they had expanded adult Medicaid benefits and then , with the big beautiful bill , the adult Medicaid benefits may be going away . The managed care organization that I work for actually is a nonprofit , so we work within a 3% operating margin to have profits . I know my company is more so trying to cut , more so administrative costs and things of that nature , not necessarily removing care from our members , but cutting administrative costs so we can operate and be able to still render the best care and quality of care with our members . And also we work with providers as far as , again , quality over quantity , being able to work within standards to get our members in for needed well visits , well checks , needed immunizations , and again the goal is quality over quantity . So we don't know what the end of the year will look like , but we are working hard to be able to streamline efficiency .

Speaker 1 9:01

That actually makes sense . With that being said , a lot of the self-employed and a lot of the members who not members , but a lot of employees who have to purchase their own insurance . They have the managed care plans . So I'm just like , wow , those are the cost-effective plans . Instead of paying $800 a month for insurance , you're at $190 . It does make a difference in everything . So you were on the podcast about four years ago , five years ago . Yes , you watch , you follow Brown Girl , reh and the long journey . What would you like to see and what haven't you seen ? As far as like the group .

Speaker 2 9:41

Just one I just want to say just from our conversation you are just having the forethought that you've had . You are , you are brilliant . Other non I think brown races or may not even understand the challenges that have have gone through as being a hygienist I think we talked about maybe at that time . It took me three attempts to get into hygiene school . The second attempt , when I was accepted , I didn't have the money . I did not have the money to . I was accepted yes , it's a go , but I didn't have the money as a young student who didn't have financial support from my family .

Speaker 2 10:26

So , bringing that to the forefront , having opportunities for brown people of color and I know you have expanded , but it is challenging not having that support . And so just seeing how far you've come , how far Brown Girl RDH has come , it is amazing . And to continue to see you grow , continue to see you work with youth , because really that is where it starts . It starts way before we get into hygiene school . But you know , young persons learning more about the field of dentistry , you know I didn't know about I was going to go to dental school and I learned more about dental hygiene school and I was like , okay , this could be definitely be an option . And so here I am . But just your fourth site , the growth , and you always almost like giving your last . You , you are selfless , and I'm thankful for this organization .

Speaker 1 11:24

Oh , that was so sweet man . Make sure you say that at my funeral , okay . And make sure you say that at my funeral , okay . Make sure you say that at my funeral . It's recorded , y'all remember it's on Dental . I'm just kidding , but I really do appreciate that . You know , I appreciate that Because you don't , I don't see it and it doesn't matter , because it's fun . You know you're doing it and you're seeing things . It's fun . But the youth is where I feel like we need that . You know we talked about , you know things , that projects that we're working on as far as , like , the youth and , um , you know , the generations coming behind us , and it just like that's where it needs to be , because the people in the program already they're in the program . You know they're in the program and it's just like , if that's not fulfilling you anymore , like how can you grow , what else we can do ? And I'm just looking forward to see how big big we go and how much impact we make , cause I'm always like we're not doing enough .

Speaker 1 12:20

We're not doing enough . Will you guys be

Supporting the Brown Girl RDH Community

Speaker 1 12:22

at the conference in Charlotte , North Carolina , in November ? It's the 14th through the 16th . Are you going to be making it doing transportation services out there ?

Speaker 2 12:30

I'm not putting it out there . It's so funny I think we talked about this before . It's like unfortunately , the dental community does not support when you're doing something outside of the dental community . If you branch off and do something totally different from the dental community or within the dental community , I don't feel like they support . But I have not put that out there . But I mean , it's definitely an option and we have not signed up . We have a few things in the fire that month , but you know there's another I'm always thinking for , like , how can you make more money ?

Speaker 1 13:09

There's another conference happening at the same time . It's called the Dental Entrepreneur Woman . It's called the Do Conference . They're having it at the same time , we're having it . So if you look them up or you research them , they may need the transportation services and you might be able to plug that , because I know they go from their hotel to like the Dance by Sirona Academy , their hotel to like the Dance by Sirona Academy . So while you're there , if you guys are there for the conference , you can utilize the Brown Girl Conference in their conference to transport attendees back and forth .

Speaker 1 13:38

I mean just to plug . I know it's the dental community , but you got to get in there and it is in Charlotte . I know they travel from the hotel to that . So if you can get in and message them and you know , know , give them some type of quotes or set something up , that's a , that's a guaranteed every year . And of course you know you're always welcome to use your services and to promote your services and to offer them with us , um , because you've definitely been a supportive member . So you know this is going to be a short one , like what is something that you live by , like some type of phrase , or saying um your mantra like what is something that you live by ? Like some type of phrase , or saying your mantra Like what is something that you live by day to day .

Speaker 2 14:15

I feel like one . What's for you is for you . I know I definitely I can go through disappointment , but when it's all said and done , what's for me is for me , meaning it may not be for me at this time . It may not be for me at this time . So just for instance , the managed care role that I'm currently in , I actually had applied , I think , two years before and they went with someone who had a background in insurance and that didn't work out for them . So the director remembered my interview . I guess I made some kind of impression and they , before I even went public , the recruiter reached out to me and I was not actively looking . I was , like I said , trying to grow in the role that I was in . So what's for you is for you , no matter what . You know you can be disappointed and it may not be for you right now , or you just may not be ready for that role , but I truly believe in what's for me is for me for that role , but I truly believe in what's for me is for me .

Speaker 1 15:23

Yeah , I agree . What was the ? You sent me something about a wine tour .

Speaker 2 15:28

Was that you ? That was me . Did you do it or are you doing it ? Yeah , I'm so we shameless plug TRL Upscale Transportation , based in Noonan

Personal Mantras and Final Thoughts

Speaker 2 15:35

and serving Metro Atlanta and outside , we do host winery tours . They can be for special occasions , team building , events . So groups , women groups , so yes , absolutely .

Speaker 1 15:51

Okay , you know , when people send me stuff I'm like who is it coming from ? But so I was like I knew there was something that you were doing Any messages that you would like to leave with the profession , anyone listening to the podcast like anything you want to share or words of advice , or you know , can't y'all just get along anything ?

Speaker 2 16:10

Absolutely , I think , as a woman , as a mom , as a dental hygienist , you're more than just that title . You know , you can do so many things and for so long I felt like I was defined by my title , my accolades , you know . But I'm more than that . I'm more than a wife , I'm more than a mom . You know , I think , getting back to me , and you can't pour from an empty cup , so you have to pour into yourself first and then prioritize the rest .

Speaker 1 16:48

Yeah , I agree , I think we get stuck on like , okay , this is my profession , and you know , even me I started thinking like , okay , I went through all of my clothes and like stuff I didn't fit , or if it was just a little raggedy , if I had like little brown girl RDAs t-shirts from five years ago that was faded , I'm like I don't need to be wearing these clothes and sweatpants and everything . I need to get up and put on regular clothes and look presentable for the day , even if I'm not doing anything . I remember one time I was I had a Zoom interview and I put on deodorant and perfume and the bear was like are they going to smell you ? I'm like , no , but I don't want to be over here sweating and musty , and then I can't focus because I'm like dang who's cooking a Philly hey , I just need to have everything on .

Speaker 1 17:30

And I think that mindset was yes , I'm getting on a Zoom meeting , but I want to put on deodorant , I want to feel good . You know I'm going to look presentable , but I'm going to smell presentable too . So it's just like it goes into your day too , when you're getting up and you might not be going to work , but you know , I'm going to put on moisturizer At least I'm going to do my hair and I'm going to put on some clothes and I'm going to go out because who knows who you might meet .

Speaker 2 17:51

That is definitely , absolutely true . When I first started working from home , I would still keep that same schedule and then I kind of slacked away and I would roll out of bed , roll out of bed and jump online . But I , you know , I definitely have a different mood when I get dressed and my signature I love a blazer . You guys may not be seeing me on camera , but I have my blazer , I love a blazer . So just doing that for yourself . Same thing , getting on podcast sprayed on some perfume it's not for everyone else , it's for you , it is for you and that just makes me feel better . And definitely making sure I shower before my husband comes home .

Speaker 1 18:34

Yeah , yeah , that's true , tamika . Where can people find you , more information about TRL Upscale , more information on you know , just connecting with you ? Where can they find ?

Speaker 2 18:50

you Trendsport Facebook , instagram , tiktok . So yeah , follow us . It does not cost a thing to like , share , love , comment .

Speaker 1 19:06

Yes , yes , yes , yes , it does not . Well , you guys , this is another episode , so thank you so much for being a guest again , and maybe we'll see you again in five more years . Okay , bye , tamika . Have a good day . Thank you , bye .