ROCK FALLS, Ill. — The Whiteside County Health Department says it's stepping up to fill a need in the region by now offering oral surgery services.
Up until the end of 2023, the only place in Whiteside County that offered those oral surgeries was CGH Medical Center under Dr. Robert Whittaker. But when he left CGH in the fall, it created a gap in medical care.
It's why the Whiteside County Health Department reached out to Dr. Whittaker and offered a spot for his practice. The move has not only allowed the county to continue providing importance services, but it's also allowed Dr. Whittaker to reach more historically underserved populations.
Since starting at WCHD in October, Dr. Whittaker and his team have seen about 700 patients and fielded about 1,000 actual visitors. Those numbers are expected to increase as the program becomes more known.
One of the ways this is reaching a larger population is through the insurance conundrum. Many dentists and practices either can't or don't take patients without insurance or those with certain medical cards because of the reimbursement rates.
The department says prior to offering oral surgery services, some patients who couldn't be helped at CGH would have to drive to Chicago or Iowa City to receive medical care.
But the WCHD is able to accept almost all patients, regardless of insurance.
The WCHD is also an integrated clinic with several different departments. If medical officials treating a patient for one thing notice an oral issue, they can now send them down the hall to Dr. Whittaker instead of referring the patient out to another building.
WCHD sees between 10,000 and 11,000 unduplicated patients in a year throughout all of its services.
Patients seeking medical care in rural areas can face several obstacles including far distances to travel, a lack of any local care, workforce shortages, broadband access, health insurance coverage and social stigma.
Dr. Whittaker and WHCD CEO Cheryl Lee joined The Current on News 8 to discuss what oral surgery services are now offered as well as what sort of impact this will have on the region. You can watch the full interview in the above video.
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