By DAN KEGLEY/Staff

Patients have been seen there already, but construction is expected to begin this week in the transformation of the second floor of the T.K. McKee Hospital building into the Saltville Dental Clinic.

“We’re meeting today with the contractor for a preconstruction meeting,” Howard Chapman, executive director of Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems, said last week. “Hopefully by Monday we’ll see some activity.”

On Monday, a sign on the front door directed patients to the Saltville Clinic during construction.
Chapman said the clinic “has been somewhat operational since January in limited space.” That space is Dr. Richard Schambach’s former office in the building that six months from now should house a 4,500-square-foot dental suite, serving patients with 15 dental chairs, five of which will be used by a private practice dentist.

Ten chairs will be used by fourth-year dental and dental hygiene students from the dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University. The clinic will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Schambach will remain on board and will be joined in practice by Dr. Lee Schambach, his cousin from California who will see patients on Tuesday and Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Chapman said.
Virginia Health Care Foundation announced recently a $50,750 grant that would pay a dentist at the new regional dental clinic. That grant was part of a $1 million package of grants the foundation called immediate relief in response to “the record-breaking numbers of uninsured patients seeking medical attention from Virginia’s already burdened free clinics, community health centers, and other health safety net providers….”

“Due to the recession, VHCF has received a record number of funding requests from The Commonwealth’s health safety net providers,” Debbie Oswalt, the foundation’s executive director, said in a release announcing the grants. “Across the state, Virginia’s community health centers have seen a dramatic increase in the number of uninsured patients needing basic medical, dental, and mental health services, and are struggling to meet it.”

Data provided from Virginia’s health safety net organizations indicate that the majority of new patients seeking help are those who have lost health insurance and/or jobs due to the recession, the foundation said.

Congressman Rick Boucher launched the $1.8 million project at Saltville last year to “fill a huge healthcare gap in the region, the need for affordable dental services. The clinic will serve a six-county region and will provide dental services to more than 3,000 residents each year.”

Dental hygiene students at Wytheville Community College and the dental assistant students at the Washington County Skill Center will also provide professionally supervised care at the clinic.

A laboratory, X-ray room, offices, conference room and restrooms will be part of the clinic.

Services will be offered on a sliding fee scale, providing care for patients regardless of ability to pay.
Chapman said delays had pushed back the start of construction at the hospital several months, but the wait produced an unanticipated benefit in reduced interest for a Rural Development loan.

Chapman said the foundation is watching closely Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget proposals it worries would have adverse consequences for publicly funded dental care.