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Page 2 <br />December 29, 2006 <br />Space Needs Letter to Commissioners <br />Dental services are limited by a combination of the number of patients that can be scheduled for the <br />operatories (dental. chairs) that.are available and the number of staff available to provide services. <br />Approximately 4000 patient visits are made each year to our dental locations. 'This is the "cap" for the <br />facilities that are currently available. There is an eight to twelve month "recall" on hygiene patients <br />because the facilities will not accommodate more patients. Dental treatment needs identified at hygiene <br />appointments are difficult to schedule in a timely manner. In.each location, there are two operatories <br />located in the same room without any barriers, which is, not adequate to protect patient privacy. Medical <br />histories are reviewed by the dentist with another patient able to hear the discussion. Neither waiting <br />room is adequate for the current patient load. <br />the board has directed staff to gather information regarding costs of staffing and equipment for one <br />clinical site versus dual clinical sites for personal health services and dental health services. In addition, <br />staff is looking at the facility size needs for one facility versus maintaining two locations. We expect that <br />the staff will be completed with this work by the end of January 2007. <br />The Board: is primarily concerned about access to health services and are very clear that if a single clinical <br />site is pursued for either personal health services or,dental health services, that single clinical site should <br />not be located in the southern portion of the county (Chapel Hill area). The Board feels strongly that <br />although they are not adequate, there are more medical and. dental resources available in the southern <br />part of the county than the northern areas (Hillsborough included). While increases in transportation <br />services may mitigate some of these concerns, there will continue to be significant access to service <br />issues for the next 15-20 years. If Commissioners choose to pursue a single clinical facility, the Board of <br />Health feels strongly that the only locations acceptable for adequate access to services is a location <br />proximate to the Hillsborough area (geographical center) of the county. <br />The Board of Health recognizes the need to phase building projects over time, and respectfully: requests <br />that the Board of Commissioners consider interim plans to accommodate acute needs of Departments <br />providing direct services to populations that do not have any other service choices.