NEW ULM - South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) now accepts Open Door Health Center mobile dental services, allowing SCHA members to receive Open Door's mobile dental services through the health plan.
The two organizations contracted in June in a joint effort to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality dental care in southern Minnesota and better meet the needs of rural patients.
"South Country members have quite a presence in the areas that we serve, and Open Door continuously tries to find ways to serve more people and serve them better," said Jen Theneman, director of Mobile Health Services at Open Door. "Even though we haven't been on the road that long, there are already waiting lists, so the need and the demand are definitely there."
On March 13, the health center began seeing patients on both its mobile medical and mobile dental clinics, providing family practice medical care and dental care to everyone, applying no restrictions based on age, gender, location, ethnicity, language, citizenship, or economic factors.
The mobile clinics accept people with or without insurance and offer sliding fee discounts to patients and their families based on household size and income, said Theneman.
Both mobile medical and dental clinics travel together across southern Minnesota every week, stopping in Dodge Center, Gaylord, Marshall and Slayton.
Patients may schedule appointments by calling Open Door at the number below, but the mobile clinics also accept walk-ins. Patients do not have to be city or county residents in order to receive services.
"A lot of our patients come from the communities where we park, but many still travel from different counties - anyone can use this as their primary care clinic," said Open Door's Amy Brennan, D.D.S.
The mobile services are provided by Open Door health care professionals and include many of the services offered by typical medical or dental clinics. The mobile medical clinic provides check-ups, physical exams, immunizations, screenings and disease management programs, among other services. The mobile dental clinic provides comprehensive dental care including cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, crowns, bridges and simple extractions. Other more extensive treatments are referred to the Open Door clinic in Mankato, and staff members help patients schedule additional appointments.
Theneman said that within the next several months, Open Door plans to expand its mobile operation by seeing patients more days per week at current locations, as well servicing additional locations.
For more information about Open Door's Mobile Health Clinics or to schedule an appointment, call 506-338-2120 or visit their website at www.odhc.org.
Mobile Health Clinic Service Schedule
Gaylord
4th Tuesday of the month
Every Wednesday
111 8th St
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Marshall
1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month
Every Tues.
1104 E College Dr
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Slayton
2nd Tues. of the month
NA
3001 Maple Rd, Ste 100
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For more information on South Country, call 1-866-567-7242 or visit www.mnscha.org.
SCHA is a county-based purchasing health plan and joint effort of 11 Minnesota counties - Brown, Dodge, Goodhue, Kanabec, Morrison, Sibley, Steele, Todd, Waseca, Wabasha and Wadena - to support accessible, quality health care through partnerships with community services and local health care providers for Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees.