1. Collaborative Partnerships to Achieve Oral Health Objectives Kimberly R. Dehler, MS DDS September 30, 2010

2. Overview Cabarrus County history of collaboration Regional collaborative activities Additional local oral health initiatives

3. 1997-2000 Cabarrus Health Alliance created Community Needs Assessment by Healthy Cabarrus – Dental prioritized – Dental Task Force established Smart Start Grant Fixed Clinic Opened (3 chairs) – Cannon Foundation

4. 2001 - 2003 Public Health Hygienist funded by CHA and Smart Start Decay rate surveillance with NC OHS Increased follow up and referral of children Pediatric dentist established practice Clinic expanded to 6 chairs – Cannon Foundation Expanded service population to age18

5. 2004 - 2008 Healthy Cabarrus Community Needs Assessment – Lack of dental care still a top issue Hospital ER dental volume Dental clinic expansion to 12 chairs funded by hospital and Cannon

6. Intra Agency Collaborations Pediatrics – Dental home referrals – Direct referral / same day access Maternity – Referrals for routine and urgent – Centering Pregnancy School nurses WIC Ryan White

7. Regional Collaborative Opportunities

9. What are Public Health Incubators? Voluntary groups of local public health agencies leveraging resources for regional collaboration to accomplish shared goals – Improve service delivery – Increase sharing of resources – Foster innovation

10. Why Incubators? Borrowed from a business concept, incubating new ideas Incubators focus on innovation Regional partnerships aim to solve common public health problems with new approaches

11. SPPPH Dental Focus Group 2006 - present Initiated by SPPPH Finance Focus Group Endorsed by SPPPH Health Directors 7 of 11 health departments of the SPPPH Goals – Identify dental program operational issues – Share resources – Develop best practices

12. SPPPH Top 10 Issues 1.Lack of Standardized Policies and Procedures for Dental Programs 2.Staff Recruitment 3.Financial Issues 4.Lack of Oral Health Awareness 5.Need for Specialty Referral 6.Need for Maximal Utilization of Public Health Hygienists 7.Patient Service Policies 8.Staff Compensation and Benefits 9.Continuity of Care between Providers 10.Need for Interdisciplinary Communication to Solve Common Problems

13. 2006 - present Meet monthly and expanded to include NW PPH dental programs Share policy manuals, consents, etc. Funded a dental clinic efficiency study for 5 counties Identified barriers and best practices 3 of the 5 SPPPH counties showed increases in production 7-25% in first 6 months

14. Additional Oral Health Initiatives HWTF Oral Health Initiative Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation-Safety Net Solutions NC Head Start-AAPD Dental Home Initiative

15. For More Information Contact: http://nciph.sph.unc.edu/incubator/index.htm Kimberly R. Dehler, MS,DDS Dental Director Cabarrus Health Alliance (704) 920-1092 krdehler@cabarrushealth.org