The need for free and charitable dental clinics is not going to
disappear as a result of Obama health care reform. Mostly because Obamacare will likely fail. But that’s an opinion and one better argued in
another discussion. If you accept the
premise, then there is some information that you or someone you know may find
valuable information I would like to pass along.
According to the Georgia Free Clinic Network located in Atlanta
(678-553-4939) there are 104 free/charity clinics serving Georgia
patients. The network offers health care
to the uninsured at no costs to the taxpayers of this State. GFCN provides a safety net that fills the
gaps in our taxpayer-funded system of health care, including oral health care. One of the local Atlanta clinics, and I have
no idea whether or not it is associated with GFCN, is the Ben Massell Dental
Clinic which has local dentists from around metro Atlanta staff
and treat indigent patients.
The GFCN is a statewide association of free and charitable
medical and dental clinics which vary in size and scope of services are each
uniquely dedicated to serving many of Georgia’s more than 1.7 million uninsured
population. Like the Massell Clinic,
these facilities are staffed in part by volunteers, operated by non-profit
organizations that reach out to their communities with an unwavering commitment
to our local population’s underserved needs.
The GFCN’s focus is fourfold: 1) Unifying clinics serving Georgia’s
uninsured through advocacy, technical assistance and collective purchasing; 2)
Development, implementation and replication of data gathering resources
regarding the uninsured; 3) Strengthening the infrastructure to serve GFCN
membership; and 4) Assisting in the development of services in areas of highest
unmet need.[i]
In 2009, GFCN clinics served 200,000
patients, approximately 11% of Georgia’s uninsured. According to the Georgia
State Auditor, these clinics provide $200 to $400 million of care. To their,
credit, for every $1 invested in a free clinic, $9 worth of services can be
provided. Less I digress for a moment, show
me a government program that provides that kind of bang for the buck. As a phenomenal result of so many volunteers,
the uninsured in 90 of Georgia’s 159 counties have access to a charity/free
clinic. Fifty-seven percent of the patients seen in Georgia
clinics are female. Most patients are employed, sometimes holding
more than one job. And at an average clinic, the percentage of patients who
are: White-40%; African-American-41%; Latino-16%.[ii]
At the public sector level, there is the Georgia Department
of Community Health (Atlanta, 404-657-6639), of which its Oral Health Unit was
created to prevent oral disease among Georgia's
children through education, prevention and early treatment. According to the
Oral Health Unit they play a vital role in improving the quality of life for
all the children of Georgia, and in eliminating health disparities. Oral Health
Unit programs focus on preventing, controlling and reducing oral diseases and
conditions in all of Georgia’s underserved populations.
So
there really is no reason why you shouldn’t see a dentist if you are uninsured,
under insured or unemployed. Please
take the time to lead someone in need in the right direction. And as always if we can be of help please feel free to contact our
office for oral health needs. Dr. Scheinfeld's Center is dedicated to exceptional dentistry that's right for you.
Serving Sandy Springs, Roswell, Buckhead,
East Cobb, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Johns Creek.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
5471 Bells Ferry Road, Suite 200
Acworth, GA 30102
770-928-7281
info@rightsmilecenter.com
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