The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is closing its Montefiore dental center, TribLive.com reported March 11.
Six notes:
1. Susan Manko, a spokesperson for UPMC, confirmed to the news organization March 11 that the medical center is closing the center and transitioning care to the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, saying the move will "ensure that we are meeting patient needs while not duplicating services."
2. The center is reportedly no longer scheduling appointments, and its last day of operation will be March 21.
3. It was unclear if the closure will result in job losses or how many patients will be affected, TribLive reported.
4. State Rep. Dan Frankel wrote a letter to university officials stating his concern about the closure and patient care, saying he is concerned the dental school does not have the capacity to absorb all of the center's patients and that there are not enough dentists who accept Medicaid in the state.
5. Mr. Frankel told TribLive that Marnie Oakley, DMD, the dental school's dean, informed him that patients could schedule a screening at the clinic within weeks. However, she did not specify how long it would take for patients to receive advanced care.
6. Ms. Manko told TribLive that Pitt Dental Medicine has the resources to absorb the incoming patients.