UMass Memorial partnership to deliver pediatric care for cleft palates, other craniofacial anomalies
Photo | Matt Wright
UMass Memorial Health's 10-year collaboration with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts will work to provide nearly 300 patients with craniofacial care.
In an effort to boost access to craniofacial care for children, Worcester healthcare provider UMass Memorial Health has teamed up with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a California-based medical nonprofit.
The 10-year collaboration will work to deliver craniofacial dental and orthodontic treatment to nearly 300 children and adolescents under the age of 21 with financial barriers to accessing care, according to an Oct. 24 press release from UMMH.
Some of the most common craniofacial anomalies, a term referring to malformations relating to the skull and face, include cleft lips and palates; craniosynostosis, premature closure of the skull’s soft spots; and hemifacial microsomia, a condition in which one side of the face is underdeveloped, according to information on the Boston Children’s Hospital website.
“At UMass Memorial, we are committed to advancing health equity and ensuring that every child has access to life-changing care,” Dr. Joyce McIntyre, chief of craniofacial surgery at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center in Worcester, said in the release. “We are incredibly grateful for this ongoing collaboration. It will not only help our young patients avoid future medical complications but also offers improved quality of life and the opportunity for them to thrive in their communities.”
As part of the partnership, patient families will work with the craniofacial clinic’s administrative director and clinical care coordinator to create and deploy individualized dental and orthodontic treatment plans. Additionally, a patient support fund will finance post-surgical equipment, the coordination of ongoing care, and transportation assistance.
“I am thrilled to welcome UMass Memorial Health to the Fresh Start family,” Shari Brasher, CEO of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, said in the release. “This partnership allows us to expand our reach by providing critical craniofacial, dental, and orthodontic services, furthering our mission to serve every child in need. Having a presence in Massachusetts is a dream come true giving many more children hope for a brighter future."
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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