Door County Medical Center (DCMC) and Green Bay-based NEW Community Clinic have signed a letter of intent to transfer operations of DCMC’s dental clinic in Sturgeon Bay to NEW Community Clinic. The transition is expected to begin on January 1, 2025.
While the operator will change, the clinic will remain at its original address, 228 South 18th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, and the existing dental care team will continue to serve patients.
According to a press release from both parties, DCMC will retain ownership of the clinic building, while NEW will lease the dental space.
As the transition progresses, existing DCMC dental clinic patients will be included in the NEW Community Clinic patient system.
The change is intended to improve the sustainability of care and expand service capabilities for underinsured and uninsured residents.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), NEW Community Clinic is better able to receive state and federal funding to expand services, including providing oral care to remote residents through mobile medical units.
“While this is a difficult transition for us internally, and we are extremely proud of the work of our dental team, it is the right direction to ensure the sustainability of services in the long run,” said Brian Stephens, CEO of DCMC, in a press release.
NEW Community Clinic said the partnership helps continue and strengthen the clinic’s mission since its founding in 1999.
The clinic was originally established to meet the dental needs of local children, and has gradually expanded its services to all residents who receive Medicaid or are uninsured, especially those with incomes not exceeding 200% of the federal poverty line.
Currently, the clinic completes approximately 5,000 adult and child visits each year, and its operations rely on community donations, government grants, and DCMC funding.
NEW CEO Kim Franzen pointed out: “DCMC has laid a solid foundation for the dental clinic in the community.
We hope to continue to expand services on this basis to support more people with dental needs.” She also revealed that the two parties are actively preparing for the integration process and plan to launch a new project in Door County in early 2025.
In addition to dental services, NEW will also provide physical and behavioral health support services in Door County. Currently, there is only one behavioral health provider for every 740 residents in Door County, while NEW’s service area has one for every 440 people, showing an urgent need to expand such services.
The NEW Community Clinic was founded in 1971 as a student initiative project at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Today, it provides comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health and women, infants and children (WIC) services to more than 10,000 residents each year.
The agency operates multiple outpatient clinics in the Green Bay area and provides medical support for the homeless, as well as a mobile medical vehicle to ensure that residents with limited mobility can also receive timely care.