Penn Focuses on Improving Access to Care for Those With Disabilities
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) School of Dental Medicine’s Care Center for Persons with Disabilities in Philadelphia has made great strides in improving access to care for individuals with disabilities since it opened in 2021. Between September 2021 and September 2022, the Care Center saw more than 1,700 patients with over 8,900 patient encounters. Designed to accommodate patients with a variety of disabilities, it includes operatories that can accommodate wheelchairs and patient rooms with low lights and noise reduction for individuals with sensory processing disorders. Third- and fourth-year dental students receive training on how to treat patient populations with special needs with the long-term goal of ensuring individuals with disabilities can receive care in community dental practices. Click here to read more.