Martha's Vineyard News | Island Health Care Shares Expansion Plans - The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News

Supporters of Island Health Care (IHC) gathered at the Boathouse and Field Club in Edgartown Monday evening to hear about the organization's recent expansion and development plans.

The event was the organization's first fundraiser in an ongoing capital campaign. With only two examining rooms at its clinic in Edgartown and an increasing demand for in-person visits, the federally-qualified health care center is looking to expand its space, services and access to care on the Island.

"We are growing a ton and so is need. As prices for everything go up, more and more people are unable to get the care they need," said IHC public health officer Kathleen Samways. "We need more space — we want to serve more people."

Island Health Care CEO Cynthia Mitchell (center) looks on as Dr. Joseph Calabrese speaks. — Ray Ewing

Through its campaign and a recent $500,000 grant from MV Youth, IHC has begun development on a family dental clinic. The clinic aims to serve the more than 2,500 children and an equal number of adults on the Island who are without access to dental healthcare.

Drew Conway, president of Vineyard Golf Club and a MV Youth trustee, said that IHC is providing vital services to the Island.

"This is such a great cause for the Island," he said. "We need Island Health Care — it's a critical part of providing access to the Island."

IHC has raised $2.6 million of its $6 million goal and has completed Phase 1 of its current expansion plan. In addition to the dental clinic, the expansion includes more medical and primary care services and new mental health and substance use disorder services.

During Phase 1, IHC purchased three continuous units at Mariner's Landing in Edgartown, with $1 million in funds going toward the dental clinic.

Dr. James Wolff, IHC's chief medical officer, said that the organization has been working on its dental project for about two years and hopes to complete it by January. The clinic will provide preventative and curative dental care for children and adults, regardless of ability to pay.

Dr. James Wolff, IHC's chief medical officer. — Ray Ewing

As a part of the project, the clinic will bring in specialists and trainees from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Collaborating with Dr. Wolff on the initiative is Dr. Joseph Calabrese, associate dean of students for Boston University's dental school, clinical professor of general dentistry and director of the geriatric dentistry fellowship program.

Dr. Calabrese spoke at Monday's event about the importance of access to care on the Island and around the country.

"People here who don't have access have nowhere to go," Dr. Calabrese said. "I'm sorry that our profession hasn't done a better job of addressing this, but trust me, we're working on it."

Phases 2 and 3 of the campaign will focus on primary care and behavioral health.

"We are well on the trajectory to a successful capital campaign," said Shimmy Mehta, IHC's chief financial officer. "Right now it's less about if it's going to happen and more about when it's going to happen. It's been nothing short of extraordinary to see this happen."

Haley Dolan, public health equity specialist for IHC. — Ray Ewing

With the organization's physical expansion, it also aims to expand the understanding of physical health care. The event highlighted some of IHC's recent nonmedical initiatives, including a produce prescription program, which allows physicians to write prescriptions for fruits and vegetables for patients who are food or nutrition insecure.

"At its core, IHC has a commitment to innovation, to looking at what health care looks like beyond the medical, whether that's food or housing," said Haley Dolan, public health equity specialist for IHC.

Ms. Dolan added that the Island's demographic landscape is complicated and has significant barriers that primarily affect low-income, chronically-underserved and other vulnerable residents and that its geographic isolation makes the local health care system limited.

"These problems will only intensify as our population continues to age and the cost of living continues to rise," she said. "But Island Health Care is part of the multifaceted solution to these complex issues... to build a new system where everyone has access to nutritious food, high quality health and dental care, safe housing, mental health and social support."

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