182108 Application of a population-based workforce planning model to map dental workforce distribution is Missouri

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 1:30 PM

Arif Ahmed, BDS, PhD, MSPH , H. W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Liang Hong, DDS, MS, PhD , School of Dentistry, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Michael McCunniff, DDS, MS , School of Dentistry, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Moncy Mathew, DDS, MPH , School of Dentistry, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Barry Daneman, MA , School of Dentistry, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Unmet dental needs of large segments of the population continue to be a public health challenge for most states. Shortage and maldistribution of dental professionals are major impediments for meeting this challenge. States' efforts in dental workforce planning have been sporadic; lack of appropriate data is often cited as the reason. In this paper we describe the use of data from various sources in developing and applying a population-based planning model to map dental workforce distribution in Missouri.

The model was based on the premise that everyone needs at least one dental visit annually. Upward adjustments were made to that number based on various sociodemographic and environmental factors and co-morbidities. Based on demographic and morbidity data, service needs indices were developed to determine the total number of dental visits required annually for any given population. Productivity indices were developed in terms of the number of dental visits attended annually by different types and combinations of dental personnel. These indices were combined to determine workforce needs.

The model was applied to determine the number of dental professionals needed in each county. State license renewal data were used to determine the number of dental professionals practicing in each county. The differences were plotted to create separate maps for distribution of dentists and dental hygienists. To approximate the current dental visit rate in the US, similar maps were created using the differences between 66% of the numbers projected by the model and the current numbers of dental professionals in each county.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, the participants will be able to: 1.Describe the process of developing of a population based dental workforce planning model. 2.Describe the prevailing dental workforce distribution in Missouri. 3.Describe the data needs and sources for developing a population based workforce planning model. 4.Describe the utility of such models in developing area-specific workforce policies.

Keywords: Oral Health, Workforce

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the primary author of the work described in the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Workforce Issues
See more of: Oral Health