Impact of dental therapists on productivity and finances: III. FQHC-run, school-based dental care programs in Connecticut.
J Dent Educ
; 76(8): 1077-81, 2012 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22855594
ABSTRACT
In many developed countries, the primary role of dental therapists is to care for children in school clinics. This article describes Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)-run, school-based dental programs in Connecticut and explores the theoretical financial impact of substituting dental therapists for dentists in these programs. In schools, dental hygienists screen children and provide preventive services, using portable equipment and temporary space. Children needing dentist services are referred to FQHC clinics or to FQHC-employed dentists who provide care in schools. The primary findings of this study are that school-based programs have considerable potential to reduce access disparities and the estimated reduction in per patient costs approaches 50 percent versus providing care in FQHC dental clinics. In terms of substituting dental therapists for dentists, the estimated additional financial savings was found to be about 5 percent. Nationally, FQHC-operated, school-based dental programs have the potential to increase Medicaid/CHIP utilization from the current 40 percent to 60 percent for a relatively modest increase in total expenditures.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Servicios de Odontología Escolar
/
Eficiencia Organizacional
/
Auxiliares Dentales
/
Clínicas Odontológicas
/
Administración Financiera
Tipo de estudio:
Health_economic_evaluation
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
Límite:
Child
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Dent Educ
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos