Training center clinic client numbers continue to grow in 2011
Use of the Holmes County Training Center’s dental clinic is increasing, with new patient visits continuing to climb.
Since the clinic opened to the public in May 2010, the clinic has seen new patient growth of 131 percent each year. According to figures presented by training center Superintendent Scott Brace, numbers for the clinic as of Jan. 1, 2010 were at about 800 patients per year. In the seven months the clinic was open to the public in 2010, the number of patients grew from 249 to 1,059. In 2011, as of Nov. 1, the clinic has seen 1,388 patients.
The patients come from Holmes County and surrounding counties.
The clinic was dedicated in 2000 with the goal of serving special needs clients. However, the clinic was opened to the public out of economic necessity, Brace said. The numbers were too low to keep the clinic operating with only MR/DD patients. Because it is not a free clinic, the patient numbers had to go up.
“While we are a public entity, the clinic receives no tax dollars. It has to be self-sustaining,” Brace said.
Seeing the increased number of patients has led to more hours by the dentists who serve the clinic. In its inception, the clinic was open one day a week. Today, it is open five days a week, served by two training center staff and three dentists. The dentists are paid a flat daily rate.
Clients of the center are largely self pay and Medicaid. Discounts of up to 50 percent are available for eligible families.
Many of the clients represent one-time visits who schedule for emergencies and aren’t interested in follow-up care. According to primary care doctor Megan Nippert, many of the new clients are individuals who have an emergency and aren’t interested in further, preventative care.
“A challenge is bringing the one-time patients back,” Nippert said. “I expect numbers to go down somewhat” as a regular client base forms, Nippert said.
Brace said a slight drop is expected that should not adversely affect the clinic.
The clinic’s goal of $1,643 billed per day has been met in 2010 and 2011, coming in at $1,734 per day last year and $1,768 per day this year. This has kept the clinic solidly in the black and allows its original mission of serving MR/DD clients to continue.
Nippert said the MR/DD client care is different in its pace and approach. The MR/DD clients may have difficulty understanding the dentist’s instructions or may act out while care is being administered. Having the clinic in the training center puts the client in a familiar surrounding, and allows parents to come in and help their child throughout routine processes. For MR/DD clients who have severe difficulties with being in the dentist’s chair, an anesthesiologist is available twice per year.
Nippert said she believes the clinic will continue to be viable for years to come.
“I have been surprised at how well we have been able to maintain and that is a credit to the staff,” Nippert said. “My goal is, after we’re gone, this clinic is still standing. I think that is realistic.”
The clinic provides routine care, such as cleanings, filings and extractions.
Since the clinic opened to the public in May 2010, the clinic has seen new patient growth of 131 percent each year. According to figures presented by training center Superintendent Scott Brace, numbers for the clinic as of Jan. 1, 2010 were at about 800 patients per year. In the seven months the clinic was open to the public in 2010, the number of patients grew from 249 to 1,059. In 2011, as of Nov. 1, the clinic has seen 1,388 patients.
The patients come from Holmes County and surrounding counties.
The clinic was dedicated in 2000 with the goal of serving special needs clients. However, the clinic was opened to the public out of economic necessity, Brace said. The numbers were too low to keep the clinic operating with only MR/DD patients. Because it is not a free clinic, the patient numbers had to go up.
“While we are a public entity, the clinic receives no tax dollars. It has to be self-sustaining,” Brace said.
Seeing the increased number of patients has led to more hours by the dentists who serve the clinic. In its inception, the clinic was open one day a week. Today, it is open five days a week, served by two training center staff and three dentists. The dentists are paid a flat daily rate.
Clients of the center are largely self pay and Medicaid. Discounts of up to 50 percent are available for eligible families.
Many of the clients represent one-time visits who schedule for emergencies and aren’t interested in follow-up care. According to primary care doctor Megan Nippert, many of the new clients are individuals who have an emergency and aren’t interested in further, preventative care.
“A challenge is bringing the one-time patients back,” Nippert said. “I expect numbers to go down somewhat” as a regular client base forms, Nippert said.
Brace said a slight drop is expected that should not adversely affect the clinic.
The clinic’s goal of $1,643 billed per day has been met in 2010 and 2011, coming in at $1,734 per day last year and $1,768 per day this year. This has kept the clinic solidly in the black and allows its original mission of serving MR/DD clients to continue.
Nippert said the MR/DD client care is different in its pace and approach. The MR/DD clients may have difficulty understanding the dentist’s instructions or may act out while care is being administered. Having the clinic in the training center puts the client in a familiar surrounding, and allows parents to come in and help their child throughout routine processes. For MR/DD clients who have severe difficulties with being in the dentist’s chair, an anesthesiologist is available twice per year.
Nippert said she believes the clinic will continue to be viable for years to come.
“I have been surprised at how well we have been able to maintain and that is a credit to the staff,” Nippert said. “My goal is, after we’re gone, this clinic is still standing. I think that is realistic.”
The clinic provides routine care, such as cleanings, filings and extractions.
Published: November 30, 2011
