Family HealthCare Expands Moorhead Dental Clinic and Access to Care for Thousands
Unique partnership builds clinic capacity for 3,000 additional patients per year, grows new dental education program.
MOORHEAD, MN – Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Family HealthCare, civic leaders, and private donors are celebrating the grand opening of a newly expanded Moorhead Dental Clinic that will serve up to 3,000 additional patients per year in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
The expansion doubles the number of dental operatories (from seven to fourteen), modernizes the clinic facility, and introduces state-of-the-art sterile and storage spaces. The expansion also adds patient consulting spaces and integrates a dental education program in collaboration with the University of Minnesota.
“The dental education program is an invaluable addition to our clinic. Training future dentists in a community healthcare setting will prepare and empower them to address the oral health needs of underserved communities, working towards health equity for all,” said Dr. Matthew Eaton, Dental Director at Family HealthCare.
Both Minnesota and North Dakota are currently experiencing dental provider shortages which can make it harder for patients to access care. Given the critical role that oral health plays in preventive health care, projects such as these are crucial to meeting the community’s health care needs.
The project was made possible in part by significant support from a partnership of private donors and foundations, including Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, the Warren B. and Geneva L. Anderson Family Foundation, and the Otto Bremer Trust.
“Given the importance of oral health to preventive and overall health, and given the challenges many face in accessing care, these type of clinic expansions are critical to our communities,” said Stephanie Albert, President, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. “Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is proud to continue its partnership with Family HealthCare to expand access to care and help address the dental workforce shortage.”
As a community health center, Family HealthCare’s Moorhead Dental Clinic provides care to nearly 9,000 patients each year, regardless of their financial status, or other factors that could be barriers to care. Nearly 70% of the clinic’s patients are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and qualify for the clinic’s sliding fee discount program.
Family HealthCare is also a federally qualified health center and Health Professional Shortage Area facility that serves a population with a shortage of dental care providers. Family HealthCare anticipates the expansion will increase access for an additional 3,000 unique patients annually and will begin to relieve a new patient waiting list that exceeds 2,500.
“Family HealthCare plays a crucial role in improving the community's access to quality dental care,” said Frank Miley, co-CEO and trustee, Otto Bremer Trust. “The Otto Bremer Trust is pleased to support this growth, which will expand access to oral health care and essential dental services in alignment with our mission to improve the lives of people in our region.”
Since the project’s completion on April 1, three dental students have already begun their six-week rotation through the dental education program with the University of Minnesota. Family HealthCare is actively seeking to recruit two full-time dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to grow with this new expansion.
The expanded Moorhead Dental Clinic is located at 715 11th Street North, within the Family Service Center of Clay County and co-located with Health and Human Services. For more information about the dental clinic and its services, visit: https://famhealthcare.org/our-services/dental-services/
About Family HealthCare
Family HealthCare (FHC) is a family-oriented primary care clinic and federally qualified health center that provides primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services at three locations in Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN. Since its establishment in 1990, FHC providers have offered health services to nearly 17,000 patients each year through more than 60,000 visits. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community health center, FHC provides high quality healthcare to every person, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. For more information, visit famhealthcare.org.
About Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation
Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports optimal oral and overall health outcomes while advancing social equities by expanding access to dental care and investing in the communities across Minnesota.
About the Otto Bremer Trust
The Otto Bremer Trust, a private charitable trust in St. Paul, Minn., founded in 1944 by Otto Bremer, has invested over $1 billion in people, places, and opportunities in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Visit ottobremer.org.
About the Warren B. and Geneva L. Anderson Family Foundation
The Warren B. and Geneva L. Anderson Family Foundation’s primary goal is to assist in funding medical care for those in need in the Fargo-Moorhead community.