The Flint Hills Community Health Center got a large boost to the dental clinic as approval was gained for a $576,574 Dental Hub grant.
Lougene Marsh, executive director of FHCHC announced the news of the grant this afternoon during the monthly board of directors meeting.
“This is very exciting that this was approved,” Marsh said. “We will now begin working on the next step.”
Following the meeting, Marsh said the grant’s intention is to expand oral health services by using existing clinics, many of which already have dental clinics in them. Marsh said FHCHC’s dental clinic now only serves Lyon, Chase, Greenwood and Osage Counties because the clinic does not have the space or the resources to see extra patients. Through a $500,000 appropriation by the Kansas Legislature and a combination of funds from public and private organizations the Dental Hub grant was made possible.
The Dental Hub grant will allow the FHCHC’s dental clinic to expand the physical space and expand staff. Marsh said the first year of the grant will include $360,599 out of the total grant because of capitol items that were included in that amount. In the first year, FHCHC will expand the dental clinic’s physical space, add four operatories and remodel and equip the additional space.
In an earlier board meeting, Marsh told board members that among Year Two’s goals are adding one full-time dentist and adding two dental assistants.
Year Three’s goals would include increasing the hours of the biller to full-time and continuing spoke expansion to additional counties.
For more about Tuesday's FHCHC board meeting, see Wednesday's Emporia Gazette.
admireed (anonymous) says...
Who picks up the tab after grant is over?
July 24, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )