2014
- Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Practice (report) released
The Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Practice report aims to bridge the gap between oral health care and primary care, particularly for underserved populations. Recognizing that many people, especially those receiving care from safety-net settings, often have limited access to oral health care, the report seeks to equip primary care health professionals with competencies to help them address basic oral health needs within their scope of practice.
The report outlines three key components for integrating oral health care into primary care, including: (1) develop core oral health clinical competencies, (2) identify entities to implement the competencies using a systems approach, and (3) identify strategies to implement the competencies, with emphasis on the three identified systems: health care professions, health care systems, and financial aspects.
The first component was developing oral health core clinical competencies for primary care health professionals who practice in safety net settings. These competencies underscore the connections between oral health and systemic health and aim to embed oral health risk assessment, oral health evaluation, preventive interventions, education, and referrals for oral health care, as needed, into routine primary care practice.
The second component was identifying appropriate entities to implement the core oral health clinical competencies using a systems approach, with the goal of achieving a coordinated effort to disseminate, educate, and implement the competencies. This approach recognizes that successful integration requires considering all interdependent elements of health systems, including necessary infrastructure, comprehensive workforce training, and supportive policy modifications.
The third component was identifying strategies to implement the oral health core clinical competencies with an emphasis on three identified systems: health care professions, health care systems, and financial aspects. The Health Resources and Services Administration convened subject-matter experts and stakeholders from diverse sectors to engage in discussions about implementation strategies. These collaborative discussions informed recommendations for modifying payment policies to better support oral health care within primary care settings and for developing interoperable infrastructures that would enhance the adoption of the oral health core clinical competencies.
Impact
The impact of the report has been multifaceted. It has influenced policy development by encouraging modification of payment structures to support the provision of oral health care in primary care settings. Educational initiatives have been launched to train primary care health professionals in the oral health core clinical competencies, thereby enhancing their ability to deliver preventive oral health care. Moreover, the report has fostered interprofessional collaboration, promoting team-based approaches to health care that address both oral and systemic health need. By integrating oral health care into primary care, access to preventive oral health care is improved, and oral health disparities among underserved populations can be reduced.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics. 2024. Payment for Oral Health Services. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Health Resources and Services Administration. 2014. Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Practice. Rockville, MD: Health Resources and Services Administration.
Lewis C, Quinonez, Sisk B, Barone L, Krol D, Kornfeind KR, Braun PA. 2022. Incorporating oral health into pediatric practice: National trends 2008, 2012, 2018. Academic Pediatrics 22(8):1143–1451.
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