Route 66 Health Clinic awarded grant for vision, dental services

Health care officials with the Route 66 Health Clinic in Afton have received a grant totaling $239,042 to provide dental health and vision services for the underprivileged.

The Community Outreach Program for Oral Health and Vision is a two-year program that will provide eye and dental care for both adults and children.

Patrick Peer, CEO of the Route 66 Clinic, filled out the application during the summer and learned it had been awarded in September.

“There was a grant opportunity that came out for expanded services for up to $220,000,” Peer said. “The limitations on it were either behavioral health, oral health, vision services or whatever we determined what was needed.”

Doctors at the clinic, who performs physicals for students at Afton Public Schools, noticed a trend in the areas of dental and visual health.

“The children needed oral health services like fluoride treatments, a good examination and cleanings,” Peer said. “About 20 percent of our student population was failing their eye exams.

"Based upon that, when this grant opportunity came up, we were approved for $230,000 over a two year period in order to provide oral health and vision services.”

After learning about these health necessities in the community, Peer applied for the grant.

“We recognize, especially in this part of Oklahoma, that dental and vision are almost luxury items if your insurance does not cover it,” Peer said. “Vision services may only be covered up to $50, so people do not get them.

"Poor vision does have a ripple effect with kids and adults. They will do poorly in school or have chronic headaches. A lot of our kids don’t realize they have vision problems until we tell them.”

In order to be eligible for the program, individuals must be an existing or new patient at the Route 66 Clinic, and the program will cover up to $250 for the vision or oral health appointment.

“The oral health would cover the initial exam by the dentist, cleanings and fluoride treatments,” Peer said. “For the vision side, it will cover the eye exam and the purchase of single vision lenses or a year’s worth of contact lenses.”

The clinic has set up agreements with area doctors in order to provide the best quality of care. There are three optometrists and two dentists patients can be referred to.

“For the dental side, we have always had an agreement with Lakehaven Dental in Grove,” Peer said. “That program expands, and they have provided superb care to our patients. I also spoke with Christopher Robinson out of Miami Dental Care, and we are in discussion for him to join the program, as well. That gives us great coverage on dental.

Source:  http://www.grandlakenews.com/article/20151106/NEWS/151109796

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