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After 2 centers fail, Akron Community Health Resources reopens center
By Cheryl Powell
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Tuesday, May 06, 2008
For the third time, a low-cost clinic in Akron is trying to fill a hole in the community's dental services.
Akron Community Health Resources (ACHR) reopened its dental center this month on a limited basis after financial problems forced the program to close about a year ago.
The relaunch marks the third attempt in recent years to sustain a ''safety-net'' dental clinic on South Arlington Street that caters primarily to patients covered by the state-run Medicaid program, as well as the estimated 200,000 Summit County residents without dental insurance.
''This will be the last and final opportunity to make this successful,'' said John Sniezek, chief executive of ACHR, which also runs a medical practice. ''This is the third and last time. That's it.''
The city of Akron initially opened the dental center behind its Women, Infant and Children (WIC) nutrition and prenatal clinic in the Arlington Plaza in 2003 with money from the state's Tobacco Settlement Funds.
Akron Community Health Resources took over the center in October 2005 after the Akron Health Department was forced to close it because of a lack of funding.
But last year, ACHR ran into its own financial problems and shut the dental clinic again.
This time around, new leadership at ACHR has made changes to try to prevent money woes.
''We're taking a very planned approach to develop a cost-effective and financially stable dental program,'' Sniezek said.
When it reopened last week, for example, the clinic started using a computerized practice-management system, rather than the paper billing system that caused previous billing problems, Sniezek said.
In addition, he said, the practice is
charging a slightly higher sliding fee scale, with all uninsured patients paying at least $40 per visit.
The clinic is starting off slowly, with new Dental Director Kris Drummond offering limited care on a part-time basis while the program gets up and running again.
Drummond also is under contract to provide dental services for the Summit County Health Department.
For now, services at the ACHR dental clinic are limited to cleanings, preventive care and fillings, Drummond said. Dentures, root canals and other complicated cases are being referred to specialists in the region who have agreed to offer care at a reduced cost.
''Demand is there,'' Sniezek said. ''That's not the issue. What we wanted to do was take a slow process to make sure everything is running smoothly.''
Since reopening on Thursday, the clinic has treated many patients who haven't seen a dentist in years, Drummond said. Some are uninsured, while others have a hard time finding a dental practice near home that's willing to accept Medicaid.
''Most of it has been finances in our patients' cases,'' she said.
Brenda Fraser's visit to the clinic on Monday was her first appointment with a dentist in almost 40 years.
The 49-year-old Akron women said dental care for herself wasn't a priority when she was raising four children. But now that the kids are grown, she said, ''it's time for me to take care of me.''
The dental clinic was the closest practice to her home that accepts her Medicaid managed-care plan, she said.
Fraser left her first dental visit since fourth grade with a smile on her face.
''I love it,'' she said. ''It's so nice. I was scared at first, but now I'm not scared.''
ACHR still is waiting to hear whether it will win a $250,000 federal grant, which would enable the dental program to add weekend and evening hours.
But even if the grant isn't successful, Sniezek said, ACHR is dedicated to providing dental services.
''We're working very hard in the community to regain their trust,'' he said.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
For the third time, a low-cost clinic in Akron is trying to fill a hole in the community's dental services.
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