What's New | October 28, 2009

Oral Health Disparities

Oral health disparities persist in the U.S. population for many reasons, including complex cultural and social processes that affect oral health and access to effective dental health care. Infrequent preventive care and high rates of dental disease are associated with minority status, low socioeconomic status, and unemployment.

The featured innovations describe programs aimed at reducing oral health disparities in two vulnerable populations — older homeless adults and refugees.

The featured QualityTools provide oral health resources, including a toolkit and an educational video to assist health professionals working with vulnerable populations.

Featured Innovations:

• Cross-Training of Medical, Dental, and Psychiatric Fellows Enhances Access to Comprehensive Care for Homeless and Formerly Homeless Older Adults
with Expert Commentary

• Oral Health Program Enhances Access to Culturally Sensitive Dental Care for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
with Expert Commentary

Featured QualityTools:

• Healthy People 2010 Oral Health Toolkit
Developed by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

• Oral Health Exam
Developed by Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights

• Oral Health, Cancer Care, and You
Developed by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

View Other Issues

Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Community Health Center-Jail Partnerships Improve Care During and After Incarceration, Reduce Jail-Based Violence and Deaths and Enhance Access to Community-Based Care

• Inner City Hospital Offers HIV Testing to All Emergency Department Patients, Improving Test Access and Subsequent Care for High-Risk Populations

• Online Tools and Services Activate Plan Enrollees and Engage Them in Their Care, Enhance Efficiency, and Improve Satisfaction and Retention

• Organization-Wide Adoption of Patient- and Family-Centered Care Leads to Consistently High Levels of Patient Satisfaction

• Rehearsing Team Care for Relatively Rare Obstetric Emergencies Leads to Improved Outcomes

• Team-Developed Care Plan and Ongoing Care Management by Social Workers and Nurse Practitioners Result in Better Outcomes and Fewer Emergency Department Visits for Low-Income Seniors

• At-Home, Internet-Enabled Therapy Sessions Enhance Access to Cognitive Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients, Leading to High Levels of Patient and Therapist Satisfaction

QualityTools >

• Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely
Developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

• Community Oriented Correctional Health Services Mapping Arrestee Population Tool (COCHS M.A.P. Tool^©)
Developed by Community Oriented Correctional Health Services

• Practical Obstetric MultiProfessional Training (PROMPT) e-Tools
Developed by PROMPT Foundation