Last week, the announcement was made by the Mansfield School District that Dr. Bryan Bishop would be a new dental provider at the school-based clinic. Renovations are currently underway at the clinic, located at 100 N. Walnut Ave. in Mansfield. Bishop, who currently practices in Greenwood, released the following statement regarding the new service:
In 2011, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 89 which led to Dental Hygienist Collaborative Care program. This allows dental hygienists who work under collaborative care permits with a licensed dentist to deliver preventive dental services in a public setting to underserved children and older adults. Permits must be granted by both the Arkansas Department of Health Office of Oral Health and the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners for both the dental hygienist and the collaborating dentist. Bishop Family Dentistry holds a Collaborative Care Permit I which allows the dental hygienist to provide preventive services to underserved patients under the age of 19.
The Office of Oral Health is required to develop and maintain a list of communities and/or rural areas prioritized as in need for dental services so that collaborative services may be directed to those areas in greatest need. Mansfield Public School District falls into the Tier 2 category, and we have been granted permission to serve in the school setting in Mansfield.
I, Dr. Bryan W. Bishop, was contacted personally by Mr. Staton, the Mansfield Public School Superintendent expressing his concern for the students of the district after the closure of the previous school-based clinic. Access to care is a growing concern in the state of Arkansas and as a provider in another school-based clinic, I realize the importance of improving access to care for students in the Mansfield area. We will be providing preventive and restorative services under the collaborative care program to students. Once I feel that the students’ needs are adequately met, I will eventually begin opening services to the general public to better serve the Mansfield area.
We are currently in the process of renovating the clinic and updating equipment to properly serve patients. New patient packets have been sent out to all students which should be completed and returned the school office in order for information to be input into our system. We look forward to serving the Mansfield area and providing preventive and restorative treatments as quickly as we are able.
