The U.S. Oral Health Workforce in the Coming Decade Workshop Summary (2009) / Chapter Skim
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6 End-of-Day Discussion: Day 1
6 End-of-Day Discussion: Day 1
Pages 47-52
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From page 47... ...
Utah Department of Health Sundwall remarked that he recently read a report from a 1934 commission on public health that noted difficulties with access, geographic distribution, and provider mix as well as a call for more dentists, more primary care, and more nursing involvement -- all the same issues facing the health care system today. He added that in spite of many challenges, including the current economic crisis, this is a time for optimism.
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From page 48... ...
Other important features of paradigm shifts include considering the nomenclature used for the workforce, identifying all potential members of the oral health team, and how to think about a dental, medical, or health care home. Another challenge to improving access relates to the model of care delivery, including private practice models, institutionally based models, public health models, and models with dentistry at the center.
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From page 49... ...
That is, instead of basing solutions on current scopes of practice, more attention is needed on how to best use each member of the health care workforce to meet the best identifiable public health outcomes. In addition, more attention is needed regarding how to determine if those outcomes have been met.
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From page 50... ...
Another participant added that in order to meet the needs of underserved populations, practitioners need to get into the communities to reach people where they live and work to overcome barriers these people face in getting to traditional locations of care. Public Health Several participants commented that more attention is needed on the public health dental workforce instead of focusing just on clinical providers of oral health care services.
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From page 51... ...
Instead, she said, oral health outcomes were associated with issues of public acceptability, public attitudes, lifestyle practices, socioenvironmental issues, and prevention policies. Another participant noted that in the 1990s, a coalition of organizations worked to ensure oral health was included in health care reform discussions, and that such an opportunity exists again today if all groups work together.
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From page 52... ...
He noted an upcoming summit on access to care and another one on diversity that seek input from all points of view. The participant agreed that more collaboration is needed and suggested the formation of oral health coalitions.
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