BACKGROUND: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine commissioned an environmental scan describing the status of health care integration of oral health and primary care services. METHODS: The authors conducted an environmental scan of US integration activities with publications from January 2000 through August 2017. They categorized services as preventive oral health services (POHS) provided by medical care providers, POHS provided by dental providers in nondental settings, preventive health services provided by dental providers, or care coordination using dedicated personnel and technology. The authors chose 4 programs as case studies and interviewed key personnel in each program. One case study illustrates each category of integrated services; additional examples describe category variation. RESULTS: The case study involving Into the Mouth of Babes illustrates medical professionals delivering POHS to children. The case study involving Grace Health presents dental hygienists embedded in the obstetrics-gynecology clinic to provide oral screening, prophylaxis, and education to pregnant women. At HealthPartners, medical care providers refer patients with diabetes to dentists and waive copays for periodontal care. The InterCommunity Health Network Coordinated Care Organization uses dedicated patient coordinators, technology, and coordinated payment and referral mechanisms to facilitate care. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of dental and medical care increased access to and coordination of patient care by means of offering health care services traditionally provided by the other profession. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Integration models demonstrate the incorporation of POHS by primary care professionals, the embedding of dental professionals into primary care clinics, and the incorporation of care coordination to increase the delivery of oral health care. Similarly, dentists identify and refer patients with medical needs or preventive gaps to medical homes.
BACKGROUND: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine commissioned an environmental scan describing the status of health care integration of oral health and primary care services. METHODS: The authors conducted an environmental scan of US integration activities with publications from January 2000 through August 2017. They categorized services as preventive oral health services (POHS) provided by medical care providers, POHS provided by dental providers in nondental settings, preventive health services provided by dental providers, or care coordination using dedicated personnel and technology. The authors chose 4 programs as case studies and interviewed key personnel in each program. One case study illustrates each category of integrated services; additional examples describe category variation. RESULTS: The case study involving Into the Mouth of Babes illustrates medical professionals delivering POHS to children. The case study involving Grace Health presents dental hygienists embedded in the obstetrics-gynecology clinic to provide oral screening, prophylaxis, and education to pregnant women. At HealthPartners, medical care providers refer patients with diabetes to dentists and waive copays for periodontal care. The InterCommunity Health Network Coordinated Care Organization uses dedicated patient coordinators, technology, and coordinated payment and referral mechanisms to facilitate care. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of dental and medical care increased access to and coordination of patient care by means of offering health care services traditionally provided by the other profession. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Integration models demonstrate the incorporation of POHS by primary care professionals, the embedding of dental professionals into primary care clinics, and the incorporation of care coordination to increase the delivery of oral health care. Similarly, dentists identify and refer patients with medical needs or preventive gaps to medical homes.
Keywords:
Oral health; dental hygienists; dental team; diabetes; health care systems; health promotion; interprofessional relations; oral health care; preventive dentistry; primary health care
Authors: Stephanie A S Staras; Yi Guo; Valeria V Gordan; Gregg H Gilbert; Deborah L McEdward; Douglas Manning; Jennifer Woodard; Elizabeth A Shenkman Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2020-12-01 Impact factor: 3.634
Authors: Huabin Luo; Raul I Garcia; Mark E Moss; Ronny A Bell; Wanda Wright; Bei Wu Journal: J Public Health Dent Date: 2020-01-17 Impact factor: 1.821
Authors: Prakash Poudel; Rhonda Griffiths; Vincent W Wong; Amit Arora; Jeff R Flack; Chee L Khoo; Ajesh George Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2020-02-13 Impact factor: 2.497
Authors: A Adeniyi; L Donnelly; P Janssen; C Jevitt; B Kardeh; H von Bergmann; M Brondani Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2021-04-01 Impact factor: 3.007