Activity Description
The IOM will hold a 2-3 day workshop to examine the current oral health care workforce and consider how that workforce contributes to problems of access to oral health care services. The speakers will present options for bridging gaps between the current and projected near-term oral health needs and the workforce available to provide such care. The speakers will consider the potential need for expanding numbers of established dental professionals, the use of other types of established medical professionals, and also the potential for developing new types of oral health practitioners. The speakers will particularly consider the lack of integration and coordination among the oral health, public health, and medical health care systems.
Starting with the understanding that health care services provided to Americans should be safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable, the workshop will address the following questions:
Question #1: What is the current status of access to oral health services for the U.S. population?
Special attention will be paid to underserved populations such as children, elderly populations, and rural populations.
Special consideration will be given to highlight the connection between oral health and overall health and well-being.
Question #2: What workforce strategies hold promise to improve access to oral health services?
This includes examination of new roles or types of providers, and the relationship among the oral health, public health, and medical health care workforces.
Question #3: How can policy makers, State and Federal governments, and oral health care providers improve the regulations and structure of oral health care delivery to improve access to care?
This will include examination of limitations on scopes of practice, reimbursement issues, infrastructure, and state and federal policies that affect access to oral health care services.