Overcoming language barriers in virtual dental home demonstration project sites

Overcoming language barriers is a vital component in providing effective on-site, oral health care. The Virtual Dental Home (VDH) Demonstration Project is customizing communication and oral health instruction to the language of the patient. The VDH infrastructure is currently utilizing strategies to overcoming many systemic language barriers. The VDH is a new system of care using technology to deliver community-based oral health services and maintain the oral health of vulnerable populations. Participating sites include elementary schools, Head Start preschool sites, long-term care facilities, and sites in rural communities. The populations served at these sites in California experience language barriers when accessing care. To determine how each site handles these language barriers, oral interviews were conducted to learn how language barriers were addressed. This presentation will review results of these surveys and lessons learned including translation services as well as other unique methods which utilize available community site resources.