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(ALCESTER, SD) – Horizon Health Foundation has received generous donations from investors in Alcester, SD, to enhance the dental care provided at Horizon Health Care’s Alcester Dental Clinic.
Currently, the Alcester Dental building is long-outdated and is not handicap accessible. Renovations will include larger, more accessible patient rooms, handicap-accessible entrances and bathroom, updated flooring and plumbing, plus updated dental equipment. Outside of the internal clinic updates, funds will also be used to assist in recruiting a dentist to the area to allow expanded service hours.
“Since our merger with allPOINTS in 2017, we have known that the Alcester Dental Clinic was in serious need of building and renovation updates,” said Christina Konechne, Horizon Health Care Chief Operations Officer. “However, with the uncertainty of adequate continued funding to align with our increased costs, we were not able to commit to this project on our own as soon as we would’ve liked to. When this opportunity came forward through donations to our Horizon Health Foundation, we were grateful to be able to move forward and invest in enhanced equipment to give patients a great dental experience.””
Investors involved in this project feel passionate about the long-term economic impact health care can play on the local community. Gary McKellips, a local retired businessman and Horizon Health Foundation board member, is one of the investors who spearheaded the idea of this project with the Horizon Health Foundation. “A dental office is a necessary business for Alcester and all communities,” said McKellips. “It provides local convenient care by reducing out-of-town trips for the elderly, minimizes time away from work by local employees, and actually contributes to the business community by bringing people to town for care.”
“The remodel of the dental clinic will allow us to expand access to quality dental care for Union County, due to the generosity of our investors,” said Tracy Pardy, Horizon Health Foundation Executive Director. “Their gift will make a lasting impact to many families and businesses in this community and the surrounding area for years to come.”
Other investors who have committed to supporting this project include: Alcester Community Foundation, Morningside Corporation, and Alcester Lions Club.
“There is nothing more important for the health of a community than having healthy residents,” said Gary Scott, Alcester Community Foundation President. “The Alcester Community Foundation has supported the physical health of our community with a number of grants for our medical clinic. Now, we are pleased to help support the dental health of our residents through this project.”
Alcester Dental Clinic will be closed throughout the remodel period, beginning Thursday, February 21st, to allow for a faster turn-around period and for the safety of patients. The project is expected to take 10-12 weeks before completion.
“We are looking forward to being able to provide a more patient-friendly experience and are committed to investing in this project and continuously improving the quality of care delivered in our clinics,” said Konechne.
Any dental questions or concerns will still be handled by the Alcester Dental staff, but can be routed through the Yankton location at 605-260-0310.
An open house and ribbon cutting celebration will be held this spring, following completion of the renovations.
The Horizon Health Foundation was established in 2016 to ensure rural health care access to those in need and provide funding for Horizon Health Care. Horizon Health Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, seeks through responsible activities to encourage and derive sustaining gift support from current and former patients and interested friends, including corporate entities. The Horizon Health Foundation, operating in coordination with Horizon Health Care, is the duly designated fundraising arm for Horizon Health Care. In the broadest sense, the purpose of the Foundation is to create an awareness of the financial needs of Horizon Health Care, which are not provided by patient charges and to systematically implement plans by which dollar needs can be met.
For more information, please visit http://www.horizonhealthfoundation.com or call 605.772.4553.
About Horizon Health Care
For the past 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.