RED OAK, Iowa — On May 27, 2026 the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) Board of Trustees voted to approve a resolution authorizing the acquisition of Dental Care, PC, marking a significant step forward in expanding access to care for residents of Montgomery County and the surrounding region. The acquisition will lead to the opening of a new Downtown Rural Health Clinic offering integrated dental, primary care, and urgent care services, with behavioral health to follow, and a target opening date of early 2027.
In a press release, officials said for years, MCMH leadership, providers, and community partners have recognized a simple but important truth: oral health is not separate from healthcare, and there is a growing need for expanded dental services in our region. Across rural Iowa, patients delay care because they cannot find local services. Dental issues become medical issues. Pain, infection, and untreated oral health conditions intersect with chronic disease and overall well-being in ways that are difficult for patients and families to navigate.
Those realities sparked an ongoing conversation between MCMH leadership and Dr. Kim Truka, who has faithfully served this community through her practice, Dental Care, PC, for many years. What began as a shared concern for the community gradually evolved into a shared vision, and ultimately, a plan. “We have been working alongside state and federal partners for some time, trying to understand how we could expand dental services and improve access to care for our patients,” said MCMH CEO, Michael O’Neal. “What became clear through that process was a shared commitment to improving access and community health. We are grateful for the partnership with Dr. Truka and her team, and excited to welcome them into the MCMH family and for what this means for our communities.”
The Downtown Rural Health Clinic will be designed to bring dental, primary care, and urgent care services, along with medical after-hours care together under one roof in the heart of downtown Red Oak. This integrated model is anticipated to be the first of its kind in Iowa, and MCMH hopes it may help open doors for other rural communities facing similar challenges.”As a dental community, we’ve recognized for a long time that there have been gaps in services, and patients who are missing out on care,” said Dr. Kim Truka, DDS, “but as privately owned practices, we’ve just been limited on options. The Rural Health Clinic model changes what is possible for us, and we are so excited to finally be able to open our doors more fully to this community.”
As a Rural Health Clinic, the new downtown clinic anticipates being able to accept all insurances, expanding access to dental and primary care services for a broader range of patients in our region. For too long, where a person lives or what insurance they carry has determined whether they can access care close to home. This model is designed to change that. MCMH is no stranger to the Rural Health Clinic model, operating three existing Rural Health Clinics across the region, including Red Oak Medical Clinic, Villisca Medical Clinic, and Malvern Medical Clinic. The Downtown Rural Health Clinic will be the fourth, and the first in Iowa to integrate dental services into that model.
Current Dental Care, PC patients will not need to take any action. Dr. Truka and her dental team will remain in place, and all patient records and established care relationships will carry forward seamlessly. “A meaningful part of this effort is honoring the legacy that Dr. Truka and her staff have built,” said O’Neal. “For many years, they have faithfully cared for patients in this community, and that trusted relationship carries forward into this new chapter. Dr. Truka has been an essential part of making this vision a reality, and her commitment extends beyond the opening, including working alongside us to recruit additional dental staff. Building that team is central to the long-term sustainability of this practice and to securing access to dental care for this community for years to come.”
“This has been a meaningful journey to be a part of,” reflects Dr. Truka. “I’m grateful for the support of MCMH, dentists from the area and around the state, and so many other state and federal partners. I really believe what comes next will be transformative for not just this community but the entire state”. Beyond expanding access to dental services, the new downtown clinic will also address a long-standing gap in the region through the addition of urgent care and extended hours for medical services.
The clinic will offer primary care and urgent care services Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, with same-day urgent care services available for patients who need timely attention. These hours are designed to meet the needs of working families and community members who have historically had to choose between taking time off work and getting care, bringing convenient, coordinated care to the heart of downtown Red Oak.
Looking ahead, MCMH anticipates the eventual addition of behavioral health services to the new downtown clinic, further deepening the integrated care model and recognizing that the health needs of rural communities are connected in ways that require a connected response. “The team at MCMH, alongside Dr. Truka, has worked incredibly hard to make this vision a reality,” said MCMH Board Chairwoman, Jill Bergstrom. “I am so proud of the creativity, passion, and genuine care for our rural communities that brought this project to life.”
This is just the beginning. In the months ahead, MCMH looks forward to sharing more about what the new downtown clinic will mean for this community, and what it will look like to bring this vision to life. Patients and community members who want to follow along and be among the first to know when scheduling becomes available are encouraged to visit mcmh.org/dental.
