HAYS, KS – First Care Clinic, Inc. is excited to announce two of their Registered Dental Hygienists have been named recipients of the 2025 Community Care Network of Kansas Extended Care Permit (ECP) III scholarship.
Annually, Community Care Network of Kansas (CCNK) partners with the Kansas Bureau of Oral Health to fund the ECP III scholarships. This scholarship is made available for Dental Hygienists to advance their careers through the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry’s ECP III course.
First Care Clinic is proud to have two Dental Hygienists receiving this scholarship for 2025, Cheyenne Branch and Kim Seib. Branch has been an employee of First Care Clinic for five years, and Seib has been with First Care Clinic for one year.
Dr. Ross Kee, First Care Clinic Dental Director stated, “ I am impressed with my team being motivated and taking the initiative to pursue their goals of achieving the ECP III. Their initiative speaks to the culture and values of First Care Clinic. I look forward to working alongside them as we implement their new skills to better serve our patients.”
Extended Care Permits were created to address the needs of special populations served by health centers and community clinics, like First Care Clinic. ECP III Dental Hygienists, under the supervision of a dentist, help extend oral health services to historically marginalized and underserved communities. By earning an ECP III, Dental Hygienists expand their scope of practice to provide a broader range of services, including:
- Assessing for dental care referrals,
- Removing decayed tooth structures using hand instruments,
- Placing temporary restorations,
- Adjusting dentures to relieve sore spots,
- Managing dental emergencies,
- And more, as specified by the Kansas Dental Board.
First Care Clinic proudly serves sixty-six schools across the region providing childhood oral health screenings through the Dental Outreach Program. A team of one Registered Dental Hygienist and one Dental Assistant visits schools to provide preventative dental care on-site, with no out-of-pocket cost. This program provides uninsured and underinsured families with access to affordable dental services without needing to leave school.
ABOUT FIRST CARE CLINIC, INC.
First Care Clinic is a federally qualified health center, with three locations in Hays, providing services for people of all ages, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. They provide family medicine, express care, pharmaceutical, behavioral health, and family dentistry services.
First Care Clinic welcomes all patients and accepts all major insurances. A sliding fee scale discount is also available to those who qualify. Patients can request an appointment at firstcareclinic.com or by calling First Care Clinic at (785) 621-4990. Patients can also schedule same-day Express Care visits on our website. Book a time and skip the line!
“First Care Clinic. The region’s premiere medical home, dedicated to providing access to compassionate, quality care for all.”
For more information contact Danielle Windholz, Director of Operations, at First Care Clinic (785-621-4990).