An article from recent months, that you may have missed.
Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Dr. Deborah Brown, DMD, MHA, FACHE, United States (U.S.) Army Veteran, Michigan Board of Dentistry Dentist, and My Community Dental Centers (MCDC) CEO, remains at the forefront of Dentistry statewide.
Hear Dr. Brown and Jeffrey discuss accessible dental care in Michigan, serving 92,400+ patients with equitable programs, in the SoundCloud Podcast shared below:
Michigan Business Network · Michigan Business Beat | MCDC’s Dr. Deborah Brown Providing Equitable Dental Care Statewide
In their conversation Jeffrey looked to find out several things from Dr. Brown; welcome back to the Michigan Business Beat;
Michigan Dental Centers Offers Care to More Than 90,000 Underserved Residents
My Community Dental Centers works to provide dental care to a variety of individuals by offering affordable care for all.
Could you tell me more about how MCDC ensures accessible dental care for Michigan residents?
As one of the largest operating full-service non-profit dental practices, what does it mean to serve over 90,000 total patients within a year?
How does MCDC collaborate with various health departments to make a difference in Michigan communities through dental care?
One of the key successes in your 2023 annual report was working collaboratively with stakeholders on the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) program. What is KOHA and how is it impacting the lives of incoming Kindergarten students and families?
MCDC offered complimentary dental services to 79 Veterans as a tribute to Veteran’s Day. What does it mean to offer equitable oral healthcare to the Veteran community?
MCDC welcomes patients and dental practitioners to its communities year-round, why should readers and listeners get involved with MCDC’s mission?
MCDC shared a release on this topic as well!
My Community Dental Centers Provides Equitable Dental Care Statewide
The dental nonprofit served 92,400 patients across all 34 of its dental centers and focuses on full-service quality dental care for all ages in its 2023 annual report
Michigan – My Community Dental Centers (MCDC) has unveiled its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting the organization’s partnerships, initiatives, and achievements over the previous year. MCDC is Michigan’s largest oral health safety-net provider offering access to full-service quality dental care for all ages.
As a nonprofit organization committed to improving access to dental care for underserved communities, MCDC operates 34 dental centers in collaboration with local health departments. In 2023, MCDC showcased these figures to highlight its steadfast commitment to enhancing access to oral health services, an essential endeavor in addressing healthcare inequalities:
- 92,400, Total Patients Served Across All Centers
- 23,639, new patients in 2022
- 200,175, total patient visits across all centers
- 82, of 83 counties where MCDC served patients
- 64,291, total patients served with state-funded dental insurance
- 20,644, children served across all centers
- 4,088, uninsured patients served
- 238, total patients served in a hospital
- 569, patients served through local grants
- 2,298, veterans served
- 9,930 Same-Day Emergency Visits
- Saving Michigan on average $3 Million in unnecessary dental-related emergency room visits each year
The report highlights notable achievements showcasing MCDC’s dedication to its people-centric culture. It includes a feature story about MCDC team members coming together to tackle language barriers in promoting inclusive oral healthcare, advocating at a state level for children’s oral health, and providing dental care to veterans.
“In a post-pandemic world, we recognize that access to dental care is more important than ever and our team members, partners, and patients are the driving force behind how we continue to create equitable access to dental care,” said Dr. Deborah Brown, DMD, MHA, FACHE. “Good oral health is a foundational block for overall health – it impacts how we can eat food to nourish our bodies, our ability to focus on work or school, and improves our ability to ward off oral diseases which are often linked to other issues like heart disease.”
In 2023, MCDC achieved significant milestones that shaped its impact:
- Worked collaboratively with stakeholders to support enhancements to the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) program. An assessment/dental exam is now required for children entering school beginning in the FY 24-25 year.
- Partnerships throughout the year include collaborating with health departments in Allegan County, Bay County, Detroit, and as of January 24′, Sanilac County. These partnerships aim to conduct assessments during school pre-enrollment, Head Start programs, and community events. By working closely with community leaders, schools, and dentists, to improve access to care and raise awareness about oral health.
- With the support of the Delta Dental Foundation and the Michigan Dental Association, MCDC offered complimentary dental services to 79 Veterans as a tribute to Veteran’s Day.
- Received $2.35 million from the State of Michigan for equipment upgrades across various centers to boost operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and elevate patient care.
- Provided services to over 60,000 patients with state-funded dental coverage, including Medicaid Managed Care and Healthy Kids Dental, and nearly 6,000 patients who were either uninsured or had their treatment supported by local grants.
By providing access to quality dental care for Michigan residents statewide, MCDC continues to partner with local communities and governmental agencies to increase awareness of the importance of an equitable dental care system.
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About MCDC:
My Community Dental Centers (MCDC) is a patient-centered full-service dental center in Michigan that offers affordable dental care. MCDC focuses on improving lives and creating confident smiles through emergency, restorative, preventative, and cosmetic services. Using talented practitioners, MCDC’s priority is to ensure all patients leave their centers feeling good about their smiles.
