Primary Care Innovation and Oral Health: What It Teaches Us About Oral Health

The connection between oral health and primary care is the subject of a recent article in the Journal of Ethics of the American Medical Association. It identifies five essential lessons for oral health from the patient-centered medical home movement. The value of preventive care, the use of technology, and interprofessional education are some of these teachings.

Five telehealth pilots are being tested by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in collaboration with the Oregon Office of Rural Health. These initiatives are funded by a federal grant encouraging innovation in healthcare provision with three goals: better health, reduced costs, and increased access. The telehealth pilots will last through June 2016, and the outcomes will be announced in the first half of that year.

The delivery and accessibility of healthcare could change thanks to the development of the promising technology known as telehealth. It can improve access to, affordability, and care integration in many instances. A 2020 survey of 2,767 clinicians revealed that 75% anticipate a rise in telehealth activity. It has also been demonstrated that this service increases patient satisfaction.

Community-based oral health initiatives are crucial tactics for expanding access to high-quality care. For residents with modest incomes, there aren’t many providers in some neighborhoods. These programs can increase access to healthcare and encourage healthy behaviors in marginalized populations by developing integrated primary care and oral healthcare services. In one project, the Solano Coalition for Better Health in Vallejo, California, direct care services were combined with dental health services, including preventive, rehabilitative, and community outreach services. The objective was to provide at least 1,000 more kids and teenagers with access to dental treatment each year.

Another illustration of community-based oral health care is a partnership between FQHCs and general practitioners. A center for oral health integration in primary care will be established thanks to this collaboration between the medical and dentistry disciplines and funding from the HRSA. This center will fill training gaps in primary care, prioritize patient-centered care, and concentrate on meeting the particular requirements of various regions.

One solution that could fund essential services for COVID-19 is a wealth tax. Although other measures, such as a universal health insurance scheme, have also been proposed, they would specifically target those benefitting from the problem. These would save families from unaffordable catastrophic medical expenses. Biovitals(r), a smartphone app, may gather qualitative patient data and instantly alert treating doctors to significant physiological changes. Many disadvantaged people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to high-quality healthcare. Low life expectancy, high maternal mortality, and a large number of fatalities are caused by these issues. During a pandemic, these detrimental effects may exponentially worsen. This knowledge is crucial because COVID-19 is predicted to cause a terrible number of fatalities in the area.

A COVID-19 pandemic would pose a severe threat to the health systems in Africa. The number of instances may be overestimated due to a lack of testing facilities, even though it is unlikely to be as high as some have speculated. A home study in Zambia revealed infection rates 100 times greater than those reported in government data.

There are many disparities in the system of oral healthcare. Income and racial disparities in oral health care are associated with unmet dental needs and unfair treatment of people of color. It’s also crucial to remember that these injustices are made worse because low-income populations do not have access to dental insurance.

The British government has vowed to address the underlying social, economic, and political reasons for health care inequality. An impartial investigation of health inequities compiled the findings and recommendations for addressing inequalities. In addition to offering suggestions for lowering oral health disparities, this report summarizes the oral health data provided for the investigation.

This study emphasizes the significance of linking dentistry and primary care. Team-based treatment can aid in the reduction of dental disparities by enhancing access and care coordination. Additionally, it can lessen the effects of prejudices and increase the cultural competency of healthcare professionals. Further, it improves relationships between communities and healthcare systems.