Download Oral Health Workforce - University of Rochester Medical Center

ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE:
Current Resources, Opportunities for Improvement
WHY?
• Dental care is the most frequently cited
unmet healthcare need among people
with developmental disabilities.
– Geography
– Residential status
– Socioeconomic status/insurance coverage
– Co-morbidities (behavioral and medical)
– Training and attitudes of dentist/hygienist
HOW? A two-step approach
SURVEY
• Web-based survey of
area dentists and dental
hygienists
• Email promotion of
survey
– Eastman Institute for Oral
Health
– Rochester General
Hospital
– 7th District Dental Society
– 7th District Dental
Hygienists’ Association
FOCUS GROUPS
• Three-to-four focus
groups
• Target members:
– General dentists and
hygienists in private
practice
– Pediatric dentists and
hygienists in private
practice
– Dentists and hygienists in
community clinics
– Dentists and hygienists in
academic centers
PROGRESS
• Survey has been created, piloted, revised
and released
– 155 respondents (as of March 9th, 2012)
• DDS: 57%
• RDH: 43%
• Focus groups are currently forming
SURVEY
• Under what conditions would you be
willing to increase the number of patients
with disabilities treated in your office?
– I need a referral system for difficult cases:
24%
– I need increased reimbursement: 27%
– I need to discuss cases with experienced
providers: 30%
– I need continuing education courses: 30%
– I do not want to treat more patients with
disabilities: 13%
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
• Continued promotion of survey through
reminder mailing, word-of-mouth
• Focus groups to be held April 2012
• Analysis of data from surveys and focus
groups
• Drafting of strengths and weaknesses of
oral health workforce, and future action
recommendations
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?