Holyoke Health Center opens dental clinic at STCC
Date: 7/13/2010
July 12, 2010By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD -- Holyoke Heath Center (HHC) opened a new dental clinic on July 12 on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) that is designed to address "a very pressing dental need," according to Jay Breines, the executive director of the Holyoke Health Center (HHC).
Breines explained to
Reminder Publications that anybody could use the clinic, whether or not they have the ability to pay. He said HHC is operating about 30 dental chairs in its Holyoke and Chicopee health centers as well as providing dental care to Hampden County House of Corrections.
The clinic will be operated by HHC, under contract to Western Massachusetts Hospital.
He said the quality of dental care has attracted patients with dental insurance as well as those who do not have coverage. There is a sliding scale for fees and insurance plans accepted at the clinic include MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, Health Safety Net, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Children's Medical Security Plan (Unicare), Delta Dental, MetLife, and Principal Dental.
Breines believes Springfield residents will be the primary patients, but emphasized the clinic's services are open to everyone. He added this is an especially opportune time to open the clinic as the state has ended dental coverage for adults on Medicaid.
The clinic is located on the second floor of Building 20, STCC's health building, in room 218. The new clinic will be open on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinic is closest to the Pearl Street entrance of the campus and patients can park or walk in at the lower level and take the elevator to the second floor, or go up the hill, park to the left and walk in at the second floor level near the clinic. The building is handicapped accessible.
The clinic will have a staff of three dentists, alternating by day, and one dental hygienist, working on Friday.
Breines said the clinic's phone line of 420-6250 is now operational and appointments can now be made. A Spanish-speaking staff member is available.
Funding for the project came from the Oral Health Foundation, funded by Delta Dental of Massachusetts; Western Massachusetts Hospital; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management; Partners for a Healthier Community Inc.; Massachusetts Dental Society; and STCC.
"There are a lot of heroes in this little story," Breines said.
