Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this report was to establish baseline data on 10 oral health performance indicators over 5 fiscal years (2007 to 2008 through 2011 to 2012) for an Iowa health center. The baseline data provides an assessment model and reports outcomes based on the use of the model. Performance indicators show evidence of provider performance, accountability to stakeholders and provide the benchmarks required for dental management to develop future goals to improve oral health outcomes for atrisk populations.
Methods: Using descriptive statistic, this report extrapolated data from the Iowa Health Center's computer management systems software, HealthPro, and Centricity electronic medical records, and analyzed using IBM® SPSS® 19. This report describes the change in utilization for number and type of visits for uninsured and Medicaid patients over 5 fiscal years (a fiscal year is measured from November 1 through October 31).
Results: The number of patients receiving at least 1 dental visit in a measurement year showed n=81,673 procedures with 21% (17,167) being unduplicated patients. Preventive averaged 46%, restorative 18%, urgent care 22% and other procedures 14%.
Conclusion: Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) with a dental component serve populations with the greatest health disparities. This population includes ethnic and racial minorities, uninsured, underinsured, rural residents, Medicaid and Medicare. Establishing baseline data for FQHCs provides a foundational tool that will allow dental management to analyze successes as well as deficiencies in the goal to provide increased utilization to oral health care for at-risk populations.
Footnotes
Sharon Grisanti, RDH, MCOH, is Dental Program Director of Crescent Community Health Center, a FQHC located in Dubuque, Iowa. Linda Boyd, RDH, RD, EdD is Dean and Professor, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene at MCPHS University. Lori Rainchuso, RDH MS is the Interim Graduate Program Director at Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention: Investigate how environmental factors (culture, socioeconomic status-SES, education) influence oral health behaviors.
The Journal of Dental Hygiene Best Paper Award was created to recognize the most outstanding research paper published from the previous year (2015). All original research papers published in 2015 were evaluated by a panel of judges, using specific criteria, to make the final selection. This manuscript first appeared in Volume 89, Issue Number 4 of the August 2015 issue of the Journal of Dental Hygiene.
- Copyright © 2016 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association