News

Blue Ridge Health Services gets grant to expand dental care

By Bill Moss, Published: May 5, 2016

Blue Ridge Community Health Services has been awarded a $648,000 grant from from the Health Resources and Services Administration that will enable it to improve and expand dental services at Rutherford Health Center in Spindale. The plan involves expanding from three dental exam rooms to nine. When the new space is completed, Blue Ridge anticipates being able to provide over 4,000 dental visits per year in Rutherford and surrounding counties.

Dentistry was made available at RHC in March 2015 and demand quickly exceeded capacity. According to HRSA, approximately 43 percent of Rutherford County residents were unable to see a dentist last year, compared to 32 percent  statewide. “Access to affordable dentistry is a critical step in addressing many of the health concerns facing our region,” said Dr. Richard Hudspeth, Chief Executive Officer for BRCHS. “We cannot separate the mouth from the rest of the body when treating patients. Beyond expanding access, this new funding allows us to further integrate our services and improves our unique ability to treat the whole patient.”
This new funding will allow BRCHS to fund the necessary construction and equip six additional dental operatories. Services provided at RHC include basic restorative services, periodontal care, diagnostic, preventive, extractions, and emergency services. Construction is expected to be completed by March 2017. BRCHS also offers dental services at Stokes Dental Center, in Hendersonville, and Brevard Health Center, in Brevard.
For more information about the US Department of Health Human Services award recipients, read here: HHS Awards over $260 Million to Health Centers Nationwide to Build and Renovate Facilities to Serve More Patients