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Overview
In June of 2006, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc. (RMHC) launched a Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile in partnership with St. Peter’s Health Care Services (SPHCS). This Care Mobile will address the restorative dental needs of children in the Capital District, beginning with children within the City of Albany. This program operates five days a week, twelve months a year. When schools are not in session, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program extend sits reach by serving local head start programs, summer camps and daycare programs.
A 2005 study of kindergarteners and second graders in the City of Albany was conducted to identify oral health needs. In the first two months of the project, over 600 children in Albany schools were screened. The results showed that 44% had dental caries and on average, each child had 4.9 caries. Further, dental problems have been identified as the second leading cause of absenteeism in Capital District schools.
Research shows that the following barriers are existent within our community and result in children not receiving vital dental care:
While federally qualified health centers, local hospitals and public health departments offer some dental services, wait times are excessive
There are only a handful of private dentists who accept Medicaid and Child Health Plus in the Community
The logistics and / or cost of travel to and from point of care locations
Parents not having the ability to take time away from work to attend appointments
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will
serve as an immediate solution to these barriers.
Description of Services to be provided
The services provided will include, but not be limited to:
Initial exam and radiograph services provided by both hygienist and dentist
Prophylaxis and fluoride services
Sealants on all eligible permanent molars
Restorative and/or urgent dental care to include fillings, extractions, endodontics, and prosthodontics
Goals and Objectives of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile
Goals:
Provide instant access to full dental care and treatment for low income areas throughout the Capital District
Provide high quality pediatric dentistry, as well as serve as a community resource for enrollment of uninsured and underinsured children
Be the source of primary dental care for the children unable to access care elsewhere due to transportation, socio-economic barriers, and / or inability of parental involvement in dental care
Increase awareness of preventative dental health and access to services
Objectives:
Expand the number of oral health screenings, sealants and dental caries interventions on an annual basis
Increase Medicaid, CHP, FHP enrollment of uninsured children and their families
Decrease absenteeism in local schools
Provide educational programs in all grades, school assemblies and PTA meetings in targeted schools and in selected community organizations
Expand this most needed service throughout and beyond the Capital District
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