ARDC New Clinic Now Open
The Augusta Regional Free Clinic & Augusta Regional Dental Clinic Announce Grand Opening of Expanded Dental Facility
State-of-the-Art Clinic Serves Uninsured Adults and Children Enrolled in the Medicaid “Smiles for Children” Program
Fishersville, VA – June 13, 2011 – The Augusta Regional Free Clinic (ARFC) and the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic (ARDC) are pleased to announce the grand opening of their expanded dental facility at 342 Mule Academy Road in Fishersville. The new Clinic began serving patients this morning.
The expanded facility supports the Clinics’ mission to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to our community’s most vulnerable citizens. The new 5,000- square-foot facility includes state-of-the-art equipment, eight treatment rooms, and an additional full-time dentist and hygienist on staff.
For many low-income families in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County, the ARDC is their only resource for dental care. Across the area, there are 30,000 people eligible for the Dental Clinic’s low- or no-cost services. To serve such a large pool of potential patients and take advantage of low construction prices and loan rates, the time was ideal to build a new Clinic. The expanded facility and staff, coupled with modern treatment options, will enable ARDC to treat a greater number of patients in a more-timely manner.
“We are committed to providing the underserved in our community with the best treatment possible,” said Margaret Hersh, Executive Director of the Augusta Regional Free Clinic and the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic. “By preventing disease and eliminating pain, we are in fact changing lives. We are extremely grateful to our community for its ongoing support, and our many donors and volunteers who have enabled us to provide a facility of this caliber.”
The project was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through a loan and grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funds were appropriated by Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb to create jobs and improve needed infrastructure in rural communities across the state. Additional grants for building the facility were received from various organizations, including the Virginia Health Care Foundation and The Cabell Foundation.
About The Augusta Regional Dental Clinic
The Augusta Regional Dental Clinic (ARDC) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established by (and affiliated with) the Augusta Regional Free Clinic. The mission of the ARDC is to provide dental related services to children enrolled in the Medicaid “Smiles for Children Program” and adults (of Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County), who are income qualified, but do not have the means to pay the full cost of these services. Treatments provided include preventive and restorative dentistry, as well as limited endodontics and extractions. The ARDC is not technically a “Free Clinic,” but rather a compassionate provider of dental care at a substantially reduced cost.
About The Augusta Regional Free Clinic
Founded in 1993, the Augusta Regional Free Clinic (ARFC) provides a wide range of vital medical services to more than 1,800 patients a year. 79% of those served are working full- or part-time and all are at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level (currently $44,100 for a family of four.) Services include primary care, chronic disease management care, diagnostic services, medications, referrals to specialists, health education, men’s and women’s health programs, limited mental health services, flu shots, tetanus and pneumonia immunizations, and eye exams. Low- and no-cost eyeglasses are also available, and dental services are provided through the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic. Residents of Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County may receive medical services provided they do not have health insurance and meet basic eligibility guidelines.
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