Students on the road to full dental care

An estimated 3,000 medically underserved children per year will receive comprehensive dental care thanks to a specially designed mobile care unit unveiled today by St. Peter's Health Care Services, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region and Tech Valley Healthy Kids Inc.

The 40-foot, 26,000-pound, state-of-the-art Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will bring dental care and educational services directly to children in underserved areas of Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties through schools and other community programs.

Those announcing the new program at a ceremony in Albany's Riverfront Park

 included: The Honorable Mary O. Donohue, New York State lieutenant governor; Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings; Steven P. Boyle, president and CEO, St. Peter’s Health Care Services; John D’Aleo, president, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region; Laurel Schumm, program manager, Ronald McDonald House Charities; Steve Lobel, president, Tech Valley Healthy Kids, Inc.; Eva Joseph, Ph.D., superintendent, Albany City School District; and Sister Gail Waring, RSM, St. Peter’s vice president of mission services.

 Ronald McDonald; the Albany High School Step Team; and representative students from Albany School District Elementary Schools will also participate in the ceremonies.

With two patient examination rooms, a laboratory, and a reception and medical records area, the mobile unit joins 30 other Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles currently providing direct health care needs to underserved children across the nation.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is donating the $425,000 vehicle. The annual operating costs of nearly $500,000 will be borne by insurance reimbursements, grants, and philanthropic support from corporations and individuals.  RMHC is responsible for the fund raising efforts surrounding the program, and will be supported by TVHK, whose mission is to provide support for the delivery and development of health care services to low and moderate income children.

On Sept. 20, the local van began making visits to the five Albany public schools that were chosen for having the highest percentage of students in the free or reduced lunch program.

Five professionals from St. Peter’s Dental Clinic, including a dentist, program director, hygienist, assistant and an outreach coordinator, will staff the Care Mobile. They will provide services ranging from exams and X-rays to fillings, extractions and sealants. Several staff members are fluent in Spanish.

Adults and children already make some 12,000 visits per year to St. Peter’s Dental Health Services offices at St. Peter’s Hospital and in Rensselaer.

“This innovative and ambitious program is the latest advance in St. Peter’s historic mission to make the Capital Region a healthier and safer place to live,” Steve Boyle said. “Having good dental care is essential for children to get a healthy start in life.  This can help them to be healthy and confident throughout their lives.”

National studies show that:

•       Dental problems are most common among low income people.

•       About 80 percent of the cavities are in 25 percent of the people.

•       Pain from dental disease is the second-leading cause of school absenteeism for children aged five to nine.

•       In New York state, only one in four children in the Medicaid program sees a dentist every year.

•       Approximately 5,600 dentists are enrolled statewide in Medicaid or public health insurance programs; fewer than 1,800 actually participate.

“Through the launch of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program and its continued expansion, RMHC of Capital Region hopes to continue its dedication to the health and wellness of children in the capital area, one child at a time,” said John D’Aleo, RMHC president. “We hope the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will become as successful and help as many children as our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Family Room.”

Debra Perez, chair of the local Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Committee, said, “The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program reflects our ongoing commitment to children’s health care and a step toward solving these problems. We are so very fortunate to have St. Peter’s as our health care partner on this project.  We are fully confident in their ability to fulfill their mission and truly appreciate their commitment to serving our community.”

The Care Mobiles reduce reliance on expensive and inappropriate health resources, such as hospital emergency departments, she added. They also provide continuity of care, heighten awareness of healthy lifestyles and safety, and help eligible families obtain government-assisted health insurance. 

Mayor Jerry Jennings, noting that his office had helped the initiative in its formative stages, said, “I want to add my full endorsement and support to the project.  This is a determined group of people and I will do whatever I can to assist them in their efforts.” 

Steve Lobel of Tech Valley Health Kids, Inc.,  said, “We are pleased to be part of this effort to provide support for delivering dental and other health care services to low and moderate income children in the Capital Region.” 

Superintendent Eva Joseph said, “The gift of a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will completely transform the lives of these young people.  Many of them are going to school suffering unbelievable pain because of a lack of access to dental care.  This vehicle has the ability to put the joy back into learning because students will no longer have to focus on the pain of decay and cavities.  We look forward to working with St. Peter’s Hospital in their delivery of services.  I will have my staff work collaboratively with the principals in the designated schools to ensure that the program is a success.”