New medical, dental center to open in Benton this month

BENTON, Mo. -- A medical and dental center in Benton will officially open its doors later this month.

SEMO Health Network's Benton Medical and Dental Center, at 6724 Highway 77 E next to Dollar General, will open with a ribbon cutting Oct. 17.

"We have made this medical and dental center our primary focus for over a year now, and we are very pleased with the progress that has been made. We are finishing our last touches in anticipation of opening day," SEMO Health Network CEO Cheryl White said.

An open house for Benton Medical and Dental Center will be from 8:30 a.m. until noon opening day.

"We would like to extend an invitation the community of Benton and surrounding areas to attend our festivities which will include a tour of our newest facility along with refreshments and prize giveaways," White said.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is slated as a special guest.

The Benton Medical and Dental Center will be staffed with physicians, family nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienists and licensed nurses.

"Our goal has always been to assure every citizen of this area has the health care they need, at the time they need it, delivered in the setting in which those services will be most effective and efficient," White said.

Among services offered include primary medical care; preventive health screenings; adult immunizations; acute care for minor illness or injury; children's care, including immunizations and well-child checks; adolescent health; geriatrics; women's health care, including family planning and annual gynecological exams; full diabetes program; on-site laboratory services; mental health/counseling referrals; translation services for non-English speaking patients; migrant services; EKG; dietary counseling; behavioral counseling referrals; and dental care.

In addition to these services, several programs will also be offered to the public.

One of these is a Chronic Care Day at each of its clinical sites on a monthly basis. Chronic Care Days consists of a tracking and assistance program in managing diabetes and cardiovascular conditions under the supervision of a certified diabetes educator/registered dietitian.

"Southeast Missouri historically has a higher rate of these diseases than elsewhere within the state," White said. "Our program involves several partnerships with local hospitals, optometrists, and wound care specialists that our patients are able to see within one monthly visit at no additional charge to them."

Partnering with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, SEMO Health Network will also implement the program, "Show Me Healthy Women," which has been developed to provide mammograms and annual exams for women over 40 at either a reduced cost or no cost for women who qualify.

SEMO Health Network partnered with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for "WISEWOMAN," or Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women to employ in its service areas. This program provides cardiovascular screening, diagnostic testing and lifestyle education to clients.

"Mommy Day" is a program that SEMO Health Network has created and implemented with great success. This program is an informational and educational program that provides expecting mothers with dental care that is covered by the Medicaid program.

"We make the information known through the health departments and government assistance organizations in our service areas, and in turn, they inform the expecting mothers of our services that are at a reduced cost or no cost to the client at all," White said. "We also make this an enjoyable experience, doing drawings for prizes and each client leaves with a gift bag."

"FYI," or Forget Your Impulses, is a grant provided by the Missouri Foundation for Health that was awarded to SEMO Health Network to coach, educate and assist those who are ready to remove the need for nicotine in their lives.

Through the funding that was received, SEMO Health Network is able to provide nicotine replacement products such as oral medications, nicotine patches and nicotine replacement gum.

"SEMO Health Network strives to offer affordable primary care in underserved rural areas of Southeast Missouri and that is exactly what we will be doing with our facility in Benton," White said.

A sliding fee program and a Medication Assistance Program program to patients based on household income will be offered at the Benton facility. The sliding fee program also covers insured persons with high insurance deductibles.

"SEMO Health Network is a critical resource to the communities we serve," said White. "We are honored to be providing affordable and accessible primary health care services and general dental services to the residents for 30 years."

Medical hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Fridays, and dental center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays.

For medical appointments, patients may call (573) 545-4200, and dental appointments may be made by calling (573) 545-4191.

Pertinent address:

6724 Highway 77 E, Benton, MO