Here is an abridge piece that details a similar effort in Arizona. We’ve highlighted directly relevant portions below but encourage you to read the full article by clicking here.
2016: “Three Arizona community colleges have committed to student rotations at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and its Barrow Neurological Institute.”
- “Dental hygienists working in a hospital are primarily in VA hospitals with dental clinics on site”
- “A dental hygienist has the ability to collaborate with the health care team and coordinate patient appointments to improve patient outcomes.”
- “Under affiliated practice, you can bill for screening, assessment, etc.”
“Hospital-based dental hygiene was recently the topic of a presentation at a meeting of the American Dental Education Association. The presenters were Michele Carr, RDH, MA, associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and Tammy Swecker, BSDH, MEd, associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry.”
(Source) “Moving dental hygienists from private practice out into more settings is a crucial part of transforming dental hygiene education. ‘It is upon each dental hygiene program to let students know the employment options and possibilities that exist,’ Carr said. ‘I think if dental hygienists can be employed in new settings, and if this grows, then dental hygiene education can focus on the opportunities available. Additionally, the popularity and efforts of IPE will assist in other professions’ recognizing the value of the profession of dental hygiene and the role dental hygienists can play on interprofessional teams.’”
“It’s a culture change,” DeVita continued. “Nurses and CNAs do not learn the extent to which oral care is important in their educational setting. They are taught that it makes a difference in VAP rates, but they’re not taught how to provide oral care, and the relationship between oral and systemic health is not emphasized enough.”
“I have discussed oral assessment and oral care education with a local nursing program for a quite a few years. Unfortunately, I have been told repeatedly there is so much material to cover in such a short amount of time, that it is difficult to find time for oral care education. As oral prevention specialists, we should continue to approach nursing education, as well as all medical professionals, with the evidence-based research. Our education, collaboration, confidence and persistence are critical to positively impact patient outcomes and save lives.”
