1. UCare/UMN School of Dentistry
Mobile Dental Clinic
Partnership
Mary Balow
MDC Services Coordinator
Department of Primary Dental Care
University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry
2. OBJECTIVES
• To discuss the unique partnership between UCare, the
School of Dentistry and community partners in creating
access to dental services throughout the state.
• To provide general information about MDC clinical
operations and patient appointments.
• To engage you, as a community partner, to encourage
UCare members to seek out dental services available to
them with UCare’s MDC.
• Introduce new changes to the Mobile Dental Clinic
program in 2016 and 2017.
3. MOBILE CLINIC PARTNERSHIP (SINCE 2002)
The creative partnership between UCare and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry fills a
gap in access to dental health care throughout the state, educates UCare members on dental care
and oral health issues, and encourages members to develop positive oral health care routines. This
partnership allows students from the School of Dentistry the opportunity to provide clinical care,
exposure to diverse dental needs, and diverse patient populations.
UCare
UMN
School of
Dentistry
UCare: an independent, nonprofit health plan that provides coverage
& services to members in MN and WI.
+ Community
Partner
4. UCARE
• Mission Statement: UCare will improve the health of our members through innovative
services and partnerships across communities.
• UCare owns the MDC and it allows them to bring the dentist to their members. The
clinic can serve about 18 patients a day, and reaches communities where their members
have limited access to dental care.
• The mobile dental clinic’s goal is to address immediate needs for dental services and to
link UCare members with dentists in their communities – a “dental home” – for ongoing,
follow-up care.
• Delta Dental (referrals and claims for state public program members (PMAP, MnCare, SNBC,
and MSHO/MSC+)
• Exchange (Choices) and Medicare (UCare for Seniors and EssentiaCare) members will not
receive care coordination
• UCare provides financial support to assist in operating the mobile dental clinic.
5. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
• Mission Statement: The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry improves oral and
craniofacial health by educating clinicians and scientists who translate knowledge and
experience into clinical practice.
• Provides the mobile clinic with fully licensed faculty dentists, two full-time dental
assistants, as well as dental, dental therapy, and dental hygiene students that provide all
the clinical care on the MDC.
• Dental, dental hygiene and dental therapy students can participate in community
outreach activities while on a mobile clinic rotation.
• The MDC exposes our students to diverse/underserved patient populations, providing a
multitude of clinical experiences to our student dental team throughout Minnesota.
• The School of Dentistry provides financial support to assist in operating the mobile
dental clinic.
6. UCare Mobile Dental Clinic
• Students from the School of Dentistry (DDS, DT &
DH) complete 1 week rotations & provide all the
dental care.
• Faculty dentists & LDA’s from the SOD provide
care and supervision on the MDC.
• Students are able to use digital radiography and
axiUm electronic dental record.
• The MDC departs daily from the School of
Dentistry to visit local sites, while out of area
destinations are week-long trips.
7. Mobile Dental Clinic
• 43 feet long and built on a freight liner
chassis
• Three operatories
• Electronic dental record
• Wireless connectivity for real time patient
scheduling
• Digital x-rays
• Separate sterilization room
• State of the art dental instruments
• Consultation area for faculty and students
• Operates with shore power (electrical plug-
in)
13. • Offers dental care to eligible members:
– PMAP
– MnCare
– Connect
– MSHO
– MSC+
– EssentiaCare Secure and EssentiaCare Grand
– UFS Value, UFS Value Plus, UFS Essentials Rx, and UFS
Classic
– Choices
Schedule posted at:
https://www.ucare.org/HealthPlans/dentalcareforu/Pag
es/MobileDentalClinicSchedule.aspx
Eligible Members
14. Dental Services on the MDC
• We market to UCare members who have a dental
benefit & who have not received preventive dental
services in the last 12 months.
• We provide all preventive services, fillings, and simple
extractions.
• We DO NOT provide: crowns, bridges, dentures, root
canals, or any higher level services. We generally refer
to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry for
services we cannot complete.
**See handout for detailed list
15. Olmsted County
• Where: Olmsted County Public Health
Department, 2100 Campus Drive SE,
Rochester, MN
• When: Monday, October 3rd-October 7th, 2016
16. Member Engagement
• Flyer is added to new UCare member packets
(those that have a dental benefit)
• Postcards are sent out 6 weeks prior to the
visit
• Outbound phone calls are made from MDC
staff to those members who received a
postcard mailing
• Community partner engagement
17. Effective January 1, 2015, dental benefits for all UCare
members are managed by Delta Dental of Minnesota.
UCare Dental Connection:
• Helps our public program members find a provider or
dental home
• Secures post-visit follow-up and referral assistance
for specialty care after MDC visit
• Answers general dental benefit or claims questions
To reach the UCare Dental Connection call
651-768-1415 or 855-648-1415
Delta Dental
20. Contact Information
Paul D. Schulz, DDS, MPH
Director, Outreach Division/
Mobile Dental Clinic
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Primary Dental Care
School of Dentistry
9-426 Moos Health Science Tower
515 Delaware Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Office: 612-624-5331
Fax: 612-624-9270
Email: pschulz@umn.edu
Mary Balow
Mobile Dental Clinic Services
Coordinator
Department of Primary Dental Care
School of Dentistry
9-220 Moos Health Science Tower
515 Delaware Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Office: 612-626-3515
Fax: 612-624-9270
Email: balow020@umn.edu
