The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40925

Sandra J Maurizio, RDH, MSEd, Ronda DeMattei, RDH, MS Ed, and Sherri M Lukes, RDH, MS. Dental Hygiene Program/ Department of Health Care Professions, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Douglas Drive, SIUC, Carbondale, IL 62901-6615, 618-453-8871, maurizio@siu.edu

Few dentists in a rural midwestern community participate in providing oral care to public aid recipients. In response, faculty at a baccalaureate dental hygiene program located in a university setting proposed, developed and implemented the Heartland Dental Clinic to serve Medicaid participants. The unique program utilizes existing facilities, staff and students to provide comprehensive oral care to underserved populations. The state awarded a small grant to cover start-up costs. Two dental units were upgraded with fiber optics to allow restorative procedures. Five dental hygiene students provide intake examinations and preventive care. A staff dentist provides restorative care, dentures and examinations. A part-time clinic manager facilitates communication, scheduling and billing. Two local Rotary Club members volunteer as receptionists for the clinic during the one evening per week that the clinic operates. The Rotary Club purchased pamphlets, a television /VCR, videotapes, and a sign for the clinic.

Locating the clinic in the existing facility and utilizing dental hygiene students, a staff dentist, volunteer receptionists and dentists, student workers and health care management interns has enabled the clinic to keep overhead costs to a minimum.

The clinic provides a unique opportunity for dental hygiene students to experience firsthand scheduling, billing and treating public aid patients while providing patients with an additional source for oral health care. The Heartland Dental Clinic model represents a cost effective method for increasing oral health access to underserved populations while also benefiting students in an educational program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• List several ways a public aid clinic can contain costs by locating in an existing educational facility.
• Identify alternative staffing avenues for public aid clinics.
• Discuss the benefits of integrating a public aid clinic with an educational program.
• Identify problems associated with locating a public aid clinic in an existing educational program.
• Discuss access to care issues related to Medicaid patients.
• Relate access to care issues of this population to the oral health needs addressed in the Surgeon General's report.

Keywords: Access to Care, Oral Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.