Local News – March 29th, 2017
On Monday, March 20th, the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met at the health center. Administrator Kendra Mobray reported the “Billion Steps Challenge” is nearing completion and Dent County has reported over 65 million steps thus far. The upcoming “Walk, Waddle, or Run 5K” race will begin at 9:00 in the morning Saturday, April 1st from the SBU parking lot. Staff from the Health Center took registrations for the race at the Girl’s Night Out event. ‘Get Fit in Dent County’ placemats are complete and available at the Health Center at no cost. Placemats includes a map of available healthy resources in Dent County such as walking/hiking trails, fresh produce, physical activity, etc. Placemats were handed out at Girl’s Night Out. Influenza activity in Dent County has decreased over the last couple weeks, but they are still receiving reports of confirmed influenza. The nurses at the Health Center encourage individuals to stay home if you have a fever and would also like to remind everyone that hand washing is the most effective way to reduce the spread of illness. Mobray reviewed the Health Center’s Administrative Manual with the Board which they approved. Mobray discussed with the Board the need for an audit for the years 2015 and 2016. The board agreed to an audit by Maloney, Wright & Robbins. Mobray will keep the Board updated as to the progress of the audit. The next regular board meeting date was set for Monday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m. at the Health Center.
The Smile Mobile will be in town today through Friday. They will be parked on the east side of the Salem Community Center @The Armory parking lot. They will be seeing adult patients from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm today and Thursday and from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Friday. The Smile Mobile is known for going school to school providing dental care to children for free. In 2014, the Your Community Health Center in Rolla received the Smile Mobile from the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. They received a grant to update and remodel with the goal of not only helping the children in the surrounding communities but the adults as well. They also started a free standing dental clinic located in Rolla. The Smile Mobile and Your Community Health Center help meet the needs of the community by finding affordable ways to keep citizens healthy, as they accept Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and self pay based on income levels. They also provide services that help those needing assistants to fill out and turn in the proper paper work. If you have a dental need and would like to be seen there are still a few appointment times open this Friday in Salem. To setup an appointment for the Smile Mobile or services at their office, you can contact them at 573-426-6734. If you were unable to make an appointment but still have a dental need walk-ins may be accepted if time is available. The Smile Mobile hopes to be back in Salem this summer to help even more people in the community.