Oral Health Integration Into a Pediatric Practice and Coordination of Referrals to a Colocated Dental Home at a Federally Qualified Health Center

Am J Public Health. 2017 Oct;107(10):1627-1629. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303984. Epub 2017 Aug 17.

Abstract

We have integrated preventive oral health measures into preventive care visits for children at a federally qualified health center in Boston, Massachusetts. The program, started in 2015, covers 3400 children and has increased universal caries risk screening in primary care to 85%, fluoride varnish application rates to 80%, and referrals to a dental home to 35%. We accomplished this by minimizing pressures on providers' workflow, empowering medical assistants to lead the initiative, and utilizing data-driven improvement strategies, alongside colocated coordinated care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boston
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dental Care for Children / organization & administration*
  • Dental Caries / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Medicaid
  • Oral Health*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Patient-Centered Care / organization & administration*
  • Pediatrics / organization & administration*
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration
  • Referral and Consultation / organization & administration
  • Safety-net Providers / organization & administration*
  • United States