The recently opened Tooele County Health Department's Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic has been struggling to stay open because it hasn't scheduled enough dentists to meet the needs of the low-income patients it was designed to serve.
"We have a waiting list of patients that is about four pages long and has about 115 names, most of which are adults," said clinic manager Cindy Searle. "We get a good number of people who come into the clinic to sign on to the waiting list, but we're not able to see walk-ins right away. Once we get going we'll probably be able to."
Several private dental practices in Tooele reported sending patients to the new county clinic only to have them put on a waiting list.
"Out of the several people we've had to refer over there, one of them who happened to be in a lot of pain even called us back distressed that there was such a long waiting list at the county clinic," said Lori Smith, office manager for Dr. Hans Smith's dental practice. "I really hope this clinic works out because there are a ton of people I know out there who need it. It's obviously a big need, and I know they have sunk a lot of money into it as well."
Searle, who spends 32 hours a week at the county clinic, said the lack of dentists working there is primarily due to trouble coordinating schedules, as opposed to lack of interest from dentists. The clinic, which currently has no set schedule or hours, only has one volunteer dentist signed on at present: Dr. Mike Wells. Searle said the clinic is trying to work out the schedules of local dentists who have shown interest in volunteering.
"We've talked to about eight dentists from within the county who have expressed interest in volunteering, and most of them have said they can work half-days once or twice a month," she said. "It's not like we can have someone all day. Overall, it's all just a matter of coordinating schedules, but most patients who have wanted to schedule an appointment with us have been really understanding and patient through all this."
Local Tooele dentist Dr. Clair Vernon agreed that there is a definite need for dental treatment for low-income individuals countywide, and he thought Healthy Smiles could sufficiently serve patients once enough local dentists volunteered some of their time.
"There are only around 10 dentists in Tooele, but if they each took a half-day a week to it could staff the place well enough," he said. "However, a lot of dentists aren't willing to sacrifice a half-day a week. One idea is that maybe the county or whoever's doing the hiring should hire a full-time dentist to work there."
Because there are some days when a dentist is not available at all, Searle said that right now patients can only call in or drop by to get their name on the clinic's waiting list. She then calls down the list and sets up appointments for people according to when dentists are able to come in.
Searle said she appreciates those local dentists in the area who are willing to volunteer.
"A lot of these dentists, most of whom have to work five days a week themselves, have to move their own work schedules and patient appointments around to volunteer here," she said. "So it's nice of them to take time out of their busy schedules and help assist us. There are over 5,000 residents countywide who are without dental insurance, and many people here have been waiting for something like this to come along for years."
The dental clinic opened more than a year behind schedule after construction delays on the new county health building that houses it, followed by delays in obtaining specialized dental equipment. The clinic finally opened last month.
To get on the waiting list at Healthy Smiles, call Cindy Searle at 277-2430 or stop by the clinic Monday through Friday.
Doug Radunich: dougrad@tooeletranscript.com
Post a Comment
