In March 2004 the Sarrell Regional Dental Center for Public Health, Inc. (SRDC) was opened in Anniston, Alabama. The dental center was created to provide preventative, restorative and emergency care for an underserved market, Alabama Medicaid-eligible children ages 3 to 20. By the end of 2006 it was one of the largest dental service providers in the state. This study discusses the performance of the SRDC and the strategies used by this nonprofit health care center to survive, grow and improve the quality of life of its patients and employees. The SRDC has found five key things that have led to their success: a private-public partnership, intensive marketing programs, separation of business and clinical decision making, an organizational commitment to the efficiency of operations, effectiveness of financial management and financial gains that allow for reinvestment and growth. These key activities can be used in whole or in part by any nonprofit healthcare organization to create success.The Sarrell Regional Dental Center for Public Health, Inc. (SRDC) was founded in March 2004 as a nonprofit dental center in Anniston, Alabama (Calhoun County).

The dental center began with the goal of providing preventative, restorative and emergency care for Alabama Medicaid-eligible children ages 3 to 20 and to provide emergency care for qualified adults who might otherwise be unable to afford dental care. The dental center’s services are free to children on Medicaid and other low cost plans like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s (BCBSAL) All-KIDS insurance.The SRDC is an independent, nonprofit corporation created through the leadership of several local dentists, physicians and other community leaders. It was founded with $225,000 in donations from the Calhoun County Community Foundation and other sources. Through the cooperation of the SRDC’s board of directors, University of Alabama Dental School (UAB) and local health agencies the SRDC has been able to expand to four facilities: the original clinic in Anniston, Alabama; the clinic in Heflin, Alabama (Cleburne County) opened in December 2005; the clinic in Talladega, Alabama (serving the northern half of Talladega County) opened in early 2006.
The UAB Sarrell Dental Center in Bessemer, Alabama (serving the western part of Jefferson County.) The SRDC is selfsupporting, accepts no cash donations and operates primarily from payments for services rendered.By taking a few risks in an underserved market the SRDC has found a successful business model and opportunity to serve those in need. By concentrating on the separation of business and clinical decision making, intensive marketing, an organization-wide commitment to efficient operations, effective financial management and reinvestment of financial gains the SRDC seems to have a found a formula for success that could work not only in private-public dental practices but in all types of private-public health management organizations.