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Recording Transcript |
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The Nova Southeastern University Dental Partnership serves patients and trains students in two sites: one in South East Florida, and the other in upstate New York. The goal is to bring together patients and dental providers to create more effective health partnerships. Training during weekly student rotation is enhanced through consultations and case reviews with seasoned dental faculty working on site. Co-location of primary oral health and HIV medical services enables students to learn multi-disciplinary care. Reflective time also allows students to better understand the social and behavioral factors affecting each patient, promoting an enlightened approach to care. Multiple strategies to engage patients in their care include: 1) An active consumer advisory board, 2) Multi-lingual care advocates and 3) Support groups. Patients' involvement in care delivery activities adds to program improvements, treatment adherence and helps foster retention in care. By integrating primary oral health, medical care and introducing dental students into the multi disciplinary team, a level of reciprocated comfort and trust is achieved that goes far beyond the norm found in a dental school. |