“The mission of People’s Center Health Services is to assure high quality and respectful health and medical care to all with a special focus on the needs of the economically disadvantaged and the socially disenfranchised.”
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October 26 , 2010
Contact: Peggy Metzer, CEO
For Immediate Release
612.238.3539
Low income patients benefit from purchase of dental clinic by People’s Center Health Services
Minneapolis, Minn. – People’s Center Health Services announces expanded services that now include oral health. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, People’s Center is able to provide affordable, high quality care that is accessible to everyone and with the addition of dental services, access to oral healthcare for low income patients in South Minneapolis will be significantly improved. With 62% of People’s Center’s patients having never received oral healthcare, dental services will drastically improve the overall health of patients in these South Minneapolis communities.
As of October 20th, People’s Center owns and operates Family Dental Care of South Minneapolis, an established and respected dental practice with a patient mix of 75% low income or uninsured. “It is our commitment to guarantee high quality dental services for low income patients in Minneapolis,” says Peggy Metzer, Chief Executive Officer, People’s Center Health Services. “Our existing clinics welcome everyone and our new dental clinic will be no different. We treat patients on Medicare and Medicaid, adults and children alike, who struggle with waiting lists at other dentists and are ready to be treated with respect and kindness. We also welcome patients with insurance, and we will hold a percentage of slots open every week for patients without any insurance who are eligible for our sliding fee program; because everyone, despite financial situations, deserves a right to quality healthcare.”
Family Dental Care has been a strong, established dental practice serving low income patients in Minneapolis for the past 18 years. The former owners, Kent and Freda Confeld, planned to semi-retire and were seeking a buyer for the practice. People’s Center Health Services’ Board of Directors and CEO recognized Family Dental Care as a valuable community asset. Since its patient base was 75% low income, the practice would be lost if a nonprofit did not step in, and thus steps were quickly initiated to purchase the business.
“We are very excited to be the new owners of Family Dental Care and to retain this valuable oral health resource for the Longfellow neighborhood and the City of Minneapolis,” says Metzer. With such a large portion of People’s Center Health Services’ patients being recent refugees and low income, oral health services are desperately needed. Low income patients are at great risk for oral health disparities and a strong link has been established between chronic oral infections and system diseases including: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, arthritic, cancer, and lung disease. Dental cleanings, prevention, early detection, and treatment will improve the overall health for all People’s Center Health Services’ patients; a service long needed in this community.
About People’s Center Health Services
People’s Center Health Services offers high quality, patient-centered healthcare accessible to everyone–regardless of ability to pay. For 40 years, our providers have specialized in listening to patients and constructing the best care plans that will work for each individual patient. We show unconditional positive regard for all patients by respecting—not judging—decisions, lifestyle, beliefs, and cultural values.
