Blue Ridge Health has assumed operations of a dental exercise in Columbus to preserve it up and running. When Collins Dental Center had to close its doors on May 30, leadership from Blue Ridge Health, Polk County, the Rutherford-Polk-McDowell Health District, and Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry started out running together to pick out an alternative solution, according to a news launch from BRH. After discussing capability alternatives, the four corporations have agreed that BRH needs to count on operations of the practice.
The reaction from Blue Ridge Health leadership, Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, and the Rutherford-Polk-McDowell Health District has been amazing. Collins is a crucial useful resource for our county, and we’re pleased Blue Ridge Health can help,” Marche Pittman, the county supervisor for Polk County, stated in the release. “I am heartened by using the strong collaboration among these compassionate organizations that, in the face of a potential blow to oral fitness in Polk County, had been centered so intently on keeping get entry to necessary care.”
Before Collins Dental Center opened in 2006, Polk County had a number of the highest numbers of untreated kindergarten dental decay inside the country, in line with the discharge. Now, greater than eighty percent of preschool youngsters have the dental care they need.
The middle has extra than 4,000 energetic sufferers.
“We’re pleased with the Collins Dental Center legacy and are assured in Blue Ridge Health’s potential to hold it ahead. Ensuring the health and nicely-being of our groups is a group attempt, and we’re excited to observe this next bankruptcy spread,” said Karen Powell, health director for the Rutherford-Polk-McDowell Health District.
Blue Ridge Health–Collins Dental will be the fourth dental practice operated using the location’s organization. BRH presently presents dental offerings in Brevard, Spindale, and Hendersonville. In 2017, close to 8,000 humans scheduled greater than 18,000 visits at a BRH Dental exercise.
“Maintaining access to super, less costly care is on the core of our challenge at Blue Ridge Health,” said Dr. Richard Hudspeth, CEO and leader clinical officer for Blue Ridge Health. “After actively running with our network partners to discover available alternatives for maintaining Collins Dental open, we all agreed that having Collins join the Blue Ridge Health own family is inside the nice hobby of the extra Polk County community.”
Collins Dental will nevertheless be located at 158 White Drive, round the corner to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry. “We’re so happy to be a part of ensuring that this place will keep serving our network in such an important way,” said Executive Director for Thermal Belt George Alley. While Blue Ridge Health-Collins Dental is presently closed, BRH plans to reopen it quickly.
Staff is currently on the web page and to be had to sufferers nine a.M. To 2 p.M. Monday via Thursday. BRH anticipates desiring to spend the first two weeks attaining out to energetic sufferers, answering questions, putting in schedules, and connecting the practice with its inner systems. Patient care is predicted to renew the week of July four, with limited hours that week due to the holiday and normal hours starting the subsequent week.
Former patients can assume to obtain a letter within the coming weeks with commands on the way to schedule appointments. Call 828-894-3120 to talk with the workforce on the website online, email data@brchs.Com with questions, and make sure to test Facebook.Com/BRCHS for everyday updates.
