Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

ADVOCATE ILLINIOS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER– Chicago , Illinois
The Dental Van Program

What is it?
A clinic on wheels, functioning as a full-service dental clinic, where patients can receive simple preventative care, diagnostic exams, fillings, X-rays, sealants, simple restorative work, dentures, and oral surgery, at no or reduced cost.

Who is it for?
Chicago’s underserved and hard-to-reach populations, including the elderly, children and families from low-income households, disabled people, immigrants, and the homeless.

Why do they do it?
To close the gaps in access to health care that plague the city’s underserved populations. Approximately one-third of low-income children have untreated tooth decay, which can cause pain, absences from school, and poor self-image. For people living on the street, maintaining basic oral hygiene is extremely difficult, and typically not a high priority, resulting in acute dental problems.

Impact: In its first year in 1999, the Dental Van provided more than 800 visits at 20 community sites and has since expanded to more than 1,000 visits annually. To date, the Dental Van has had more than 4,140 total patients. In 2007, serving those most in need of dental care, the program treated 206 patients from senior sites, 209 homeless patients, 137 students through school-based health centers, and 185 patients with disabilities.

Contact: Judith Walker
Manager of Dental Programs
Phone: 773-296-8189
E-mail: Judith.Walker@advocatehealth.com