Health Department explores on-site dental services with donated chairs

Rachel Jones, a representative of the Chase County Health Department, told the commissioners the department is pursuing a partnership to bring dental services to residents.

Jones said Grace Med of Wichita/Topeka has offered to donate two dental units and that the local technical college has two chairs; the college’s students would provide treatment as part of training. "Grace Med out of Witchaw Topeka is donating two dental units and … the tech college has two chairs," Jones said, and the partners want to "measure the rooms in the Chase County Health Department" on June 18 to see if a back room could host one chair.

Jones said the college maintains affiliation agreements and liability coverage for student clinics and that a mobile clinic van remains a backup if the office space is unsuitable. She said the partners are interested in starting the service as soon as October but that several steps—room measurements, insurance and scheduling—must be completed first.

Commissioners asked about funding and frequency; Jones said the college anticipates providing students for training without asking the county for direct funds and that services might begin one day a month at first and expand if demand supports it. A commissioner noted Dr. Chambers had previously measured the room and judged it could fit one chair.

The Health Department will host Grace Med and the tech college on June 18 for measurements and an on-site review; the board asked Jones to report back with findings and any requests for space improvements or funding once the partners complete those steps.

The commissioners did not take formal action on the item at the meeting.