Door County Medical Center (DCMC) has announced it will transition its Dental Clinic to N.E.W. Community Clinic beginning January 1, 2025. A letter of intent has been signed and the two organizations are working collaboratively on the next steps, with the goal toward initiating the transition at the start of the new year. This transition will allow the Medical Center to focus on its core mission, while creating additional opportunities for underinsured and uninsured residents in the region to obtain dental care through N.E.W Community Clinic services.
"This transition is difficult internally because we are so proud of the Dental Clinic and the work that our dental team does for the community, but it is critical for the sustainability of those services," explains DCMC C.E.O. Brian Stephens. "N.E.W. Community Clinic has an extensive history and focus on serving patients with dental needs, including creating new and innovative outreach efforts such as its recently launched mobile unit. This is an opportunity to build on the great work that our team has done throughout the years and will continue to expand services for our dental clinic patients."
With its designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center, N.E.W. Community Clinic has greater access to federal and state funding sources, creating opportunities to expand services and to have a wider-reaching impact within the region.
"We're excited to be taking on this new opportunity and look forward to building on the incredible work DC Medical Clinic has started," said N.E.W. Community Clinic C.E.O. Kim Franzen. "They created a strong foundation within the community, which we will leverage to reach more people in need of dental services. Although the official transition won't happen until the beginning of 2025, we are already working collaboratively to prepare for the integration process and identify new programs to launch in Door County in early 2025."
Patients currently under the care of the DCMC Dental Clinic will seamlessly transition into the N.E.W. Community Clinic patient roster, with care offered at the current Sturgeon Bay dental clinic. The current dental team staff and providers will not change. The Dental Clinic building will continue to be owned by DCMC and the dental space will be leased to N.E.W. Community Clinic.
Franzen said, "N.E.W. Community Clinic has a positive working relationship with Door County Medical, and this is another example of how health care organizations can collaborate for the greater good of the communities that they serve. We are looking forward to expanding dental services in Door County through our community health approach which includes using the mobile health unit to serve those in Door County where there isn't a healthcare facility nearby."
In addition to dental services, N.E.W. Community Clinic also offers physical and behavioral health support services that will be incorporated as part of the expansion of services in the Door County region. "There's a growing need across the state for these services and Door County is no exception," Franzen explains. "With our community health approach, we're able to focus and serve our patients in a number of ways and we'll continue to do that in Door County."
Door County currently ranks at 740 residents per 1 behavioral health provider. The State as a whole has a ratio of 440:1. The additional support for mental health needs will help ensure better access for some of the most vulnerable in Door County.
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About the DCMC Dental Clinic
The DCMC Dental Clinic began in 1999 as a response to community need for accessible dental care. The service began for children only, but later grew to include anyone on Medicaid insurance or uninsured up to the 200% of poverty level. The Dental Clinic partners with local organizations such as Door County Public Health for patient referrals. Clinic operating expenses are covered through a combination of community donations, grants and support from DCMC. The need for dental services for those who are uninsured only continues to grow, creating a greater need for operating funds. The Dental Clinic currently completes approximately 5,000 appointments for adults and children per year.
About Door County Medical Center
For more than 75 years, Door County Medical Center (DCMC) has been the leader in health and wellness for Door and Kewaunee counties. Our integrated medical center provides a wide range of specialties, including Primary Care, General Surgery, the Women's and Children's Center, the Door Orthopedic Center, Behavioral Health, the Door County Cancer Center, a skilled nursing facility, and rehabilitation services facilities among others. With its main campus in Sturgeon Bay and satellite clinics and rehabilitation services facilities in other smaller communities, DCMC provides expert care, close to home. More than 175 physicians serve on the medical staff. Visit www.dcmedical.org for more information.
About N.E.W. Community Clinic:
N.E.W. Community Clinic was established in 1971 as the Green Bay Area Free Clinic through a University of Wisconsin–Green Bay student project. Today the clinic has evolved into a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and serves more than 10,000 people annually in the medical, dental, behavioral health, and Women Infants and Children (WIC) programs. N.E.W. Community Clinic provides access to quality, comprehensive, and compassionate care to the underserved in the community regardless of their ability to pay. N.E.W. Community Clinic operates out of several locations throughout the greater Green Bay area and offers a number of healthcare services including primary care as well as dental and behavioral health services. It also offers healthcare for the homeless programs at area shelters as well as a mobile unit which delivers medical and dental care directly to those who cannot visit one of its clinic locations.
For more information on the N.E.W. Community Clinic, please visit www.newcc.health.