WILLIAMSBURG — Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center announced Friday it is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Sentara Healthcare.
The grant will support Olde Towne’s Comprehensive Integrated Care Model for physical and behavioral health services and expand dental services and telehealth availability for both medical and dental appointments, according to a press release.
“Being the recipient of this grant greatly enhances Olde Towne continuing to be a viable health center for the vulnerable patients in our community,” Olde Towne’s Executive Director, Aaron Thompson, said. “It is another prudent way that Olde Towne continues its mission of assuring access to quality health and wellness care to the residents and workforce of the greater Williamsburg community.”
One of the focuses of the grant is to ensure greater access to behavioral health services for adults, children and families, Olde Towne noted in the release, a need it meets as “one of the few providers in the area caring for uninsured and underinsured adults and children, a vulnerable population in greater Williamsburg.”
Olde Towne highlighted that behavioral health care is a large part of the services it provides for its patients, with research showing that many patients who suffer from mental illness also suffer from chronic illness and may often develop co-occurring substance use disorders that exacerbate health outcomes over time.
According to Olde Towne, its “ability to incorporate both primary care and behavioral health helps narrow the gap of health disparities for certain populations in the Williamsburg community.”
The grant will support the expansion of the existing coordinated care of primary physical health and behavioral health of patients, it said, while also allowing for expanded dental services, access to which has improved with recent expansion of Medicaid.
Grant funds will also be used to increase telehealth for both medical and dental patients, which Olde Towne notes can eliminate potential barriers to access.
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center is a nonprofit, community-based rural health clinic providing health and dental services to uninsured and underinsured residents living and working in the City of Williamsburg, James City and York Counties. For more information, visit oldetownemedicalcenter.org or call 757-259-3258
