Dental program expands at San Benito Health Foundation
The Health Trust, a nonprofit foundation in Silicon Valley,
donated nearly $20,000 in dental equipment to the San Benito Health
Foundation Dental Program.
Dental program expands at San Benito Health Foundation
The Health Trust, a nonprofit foundation in Silicon Valley, donated nearly $20,000 in dental equipment to the San Benito Health Foundation Dental Program.
The gift included two complete units; dental chairs with an island unit, treatment lights and treatment equipment. The chairs and equipment are part of a larger project to upgrade and expand the clinic so it can care for as many as 60 patients a day by the end of the year. The equipment came from the recently closed Franklin McKinley Dental Center in San Jose, which was operated by the Health Trust. They opened a new Dental Center in conjunction with the Children’s Dental Group.
“This is a wonderful gift that allows us to expand access to high quality care to meet the growing needs in our community,” said Rosa Vivian Fernandez, the chief executive officer of the San Benito Health Foundation. “Our dentists will see a higher volume of patients while providing each patient with quality, comfortable care with the dignity and respect that our community deserves.”
The San Benito Health Foundation Dental Program is supported by federal funding and provides services to any community member regardless of their ability to pay. It is one of the few locations in the county that serves uninsured residents as well as Denti-Cal and Healthy Families patients. The yearlong expansion program includes the addition of more chairs and equipment, as well as adding a Spanish-speaking dentist to their roster.
The additional capacity will allow health foundation dentists to see patients referred from the county’s Women, Infants and Children program.
“It is wonderful that this equipment can go to good use meeting the needs of children and families in San Benito County,” said Frederick J. Ferrer, the Health Trust CEO. “I believe these units will be so beneficial that I have given an additional $1,000 grant to cover the San Benito Health Foundation Dental Program’s cost of disconnecting their old units.”
The San Benito Health Foundation is located at 351 Felice Drive in Hollister. They offer medical care, prenatal care, women’s health services, pediatric and adult immunizations, physicals and WIC services. Dental appointments are available on Thursdays. For more information, call 637-5306.
