By Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—PrairieStar Health Center officials announced the beginning of a three-year, $9.6 million capital campaign to fund the Bridging the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care project last week.
Of the $9.6 million needed for the project, $7.55 million has already been raised or committed. PrairieStar hopes to raise the remaining $2.05 million by Dec. 31, 2027, the end of the three year capital campaign.
The Bridging the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care project will address the serious oral health issues in the underserved nine-county area that PrairieStar currently serves by increasing access through the construction of a new dental clinic with almost twice the capacity, the announcement said. With 14 dental suites, including one that is handicap accessible, the new clinic will allow more in-reach and out-reach patients to be served. The project will also include a new drive-thru pharmacy.
The new dental clinic will also allow PrairieStar to provide greater access for kids through the dental outreach program. Currently, PrairieStar provides dental outreach to thousands of kids at 64 school attendance centers. Of the students PrairieStar screens in the schools, 17% need urgent care. Kids with dental pain miss school more often and have difficulty concentrating, leading to lower grades, PrairieStar said in the announcement.
For more information on the Bridging the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care project or to make a donation, visit pshcks.org/bridgingthegap/.