The Erie County Community Health Center, a division of the Erie County Health Department, has announced a new partnership with the OhDENTALio Veterans Home in Sandusky to provide on-site, high-quality dental services to residents, according to a news release.
This collaboration marks a significant expansion of the health center’s safety net dental program, introducing its fifth regional clinical site dedicated to removing barriers to oral health care, the release said.
The Community Health Center’s safety net dental program provides comprehensive low- and no-cost dental services to individuals who qualify based on income or insurance status.
By embedding these services directly within the Ohio Veterans Home, the partnership ensures that local veterans receive critical, specialized care without the logistical hardships of traveling off-site, according to the release.
This new location joins the Community Health Center’s four existing dental access points across the region: the Main Campus in Sandusky; the EHOVE Career Center; Kelleys Island; and the Margaretta School-Based Health Center.
“Oral health is a vital, yet frequently overlooked, pillar of a person’s overall physical well-being,” said Nicole Ziegler, chief health services officer, in the release. “Routine dental care prevents systemic infections, supports proper nutrition and directly impacts chronic disease management.
“Bringing these safety net services to the Ohio Veterans Home, allows us to deliver essential health interventions right to the doorstep of a population that truly deserves our highest level of care and clinical support.”
The expansion underscores the agency’s data-driven commitment to expanding local health care access and meeting vulnerable populations exactly where they live and work, the release said.
“As one of only five Gold Medal award-winning Federally Qualified Health Centers in Ohio, the Erie County Health Center is poised to provide the top-quality oral health care our veterans need and deserve,” stated Peter T. Schade, commissioner of Erie County Health, in the release. “By partnering with the OVH, we are maximizing our public health resources to fill a critical gap in care.
“This fifth location strengthens our regional safety net infrastructure, ensuring that high-quality, dignified dental services remain accessible to those who served our nation.”