Jefferson Lansdale Hospital Dental Care Access Program
In 2013, when the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association converted into the VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, one of the key questions was “What will happen to the Dental Clinic?” For years, the North Penn VNA had offered low-cost/no-cost dental services for uninsured patients thanks to the generosity of a handful of volunteer dentists, onsite at the VNA building in Lansdale. VNA Foundation leadership sought creative ways to continue to serve the community’s dental care needs in lieu of a single clinic. In 2014, the VNA Foundation made its first-ever grant to the Abington Dental Care Access Program in the amount of $100,000, and a remarkable partnership was born.
Known today as the Jefferson Health Lansdale Dental Care Access Program, this unique collaborative effort is a partnership among VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn (major funding), Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society (dental providers) and Jefferson Health (administrative coordination). Children, adults and seniors who reside in the greater North Penn region, who are either uninsured or underinsured for dental care, and who meet income requirements may enroll in the program and be matched with a participating dental provider whose location, office hours, language spoken, and/or area of expertise (pediatric, etc.) aligns with the patient’s needs.
In collaboration with 41 dentists in 16 dental practices, the program provides preventive care, basic restorative procedures, and emergency services to qualifying children and adults. The scope of care includes cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings and extractions. The cost of dentures or partial dentures is covered if the costs are within the maximum allotment of funding per person.
In more than 10 years, the VNA Foundation has granted over $1,000,000 to the Dental Care Access program, which has served more than 993 unduplicated individuals in our region with compassion, care and respect.
Jefferson Lansdale Hospital Dental Care Access Program — Click for the CURRENT FACT SHEET
Feedback from Dental Provider Satisfaction Surveys:
- Likelihood of recommending the program to other dental providers was rated at 10 (extremely likely), based on a 0 to 10 scale.
- 100% of respondents strongly agreed they were satisfied with their participation in the program.
Thoughts on what the offices like the most about participating in our program:
- “We get to have a part in helping children and their families.”
- “I think it’s great to help patients that need a bit of support. [The program coordinator] is fantastic. Super helpful and always attentive to what we need. Thank you for all you do.”
Feedback from Participant Satisfaction Surveys:
- 97% of respondents were pleased with the dental services they received from their dentist.
- 95% of respondents were happy with the services they received from the Dental Care Access Program.
- 98% of respondents would recommend the program to family and friends.
Comments included:
- “I can smile now!”
- “The doctor, their assistants, and the receptionist are very kind and professional.”
- “Thank you very much for taking great care of my daughter. She is very happy and says that she loves her dentist.”
- “Thank you very much for the care you give to each patient, you make them feel that they matter and that you understand how difficult it is to have a dental problem and you help them get better. Thank you.”
Origins of the program, L-R: VNAF’s Lee Mangan; Jefferson Health’s Meg McGoldrick and Julie Paslowski [then Abington Health]; VNAF’s Curt Deardorff, DDS celebrating the first $100,000 grant for this unique program
Dental Access Partners – Dentists in Lansdale, Abington-Lansdale Hospital staff, Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society, Dave Crosson, Bud Leister, Julie Paslowski, Joanne Kline
Kathy McCarter and Julie Paslowski – Dental Access Presentation