Chief Dental Officer Eastern Shore Rural Health System
Disclosure(s):
Scott B. Wolpin, DMD: No financial relationships to disclose
Description: Approximately one in five adults with Type II diabetes experiences depressive symptoms which affect self-management of overall health and well-being. Patients with multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes and depression, have lower medication, dietary, and physical activity adherence thereby elevating risk for other comorbid conditions to develop. In effort to address diabetes and depression management, Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. (ESRHS) participated in a seven-month integrative health pilot initiative aimed at increasing depression screening and monitoring of diabetes management at dental hygiene recall visits. Dental hygiene patients with elevated HbA1c were identified using a registry report and were screened for depression in the waiting room prior to their visit. Hygienists were trained to address positive depression screens and elevated HbA1c values which involved initiation of in-house consultation with a behaviorist or health education services, respectively. Data were collected and the clinical pathway was gradually improved over the course of the four-month pilot program. The increase in screening of patients for depression and diabetes resulted in expansion of this initiative to other hygienists across ESRHS clinical sites in early 2022.
Source of Funding:: This program is supported by the Virginia Department of Health through VDH HRSA Workforce Grant HRSA-18-014 Medical and Dental Integration Collaborative (starts in Feb. 2022) Goal: Support medical and dental integration, care coordination, and advance health equity among the oral health workforce. Funding: Participating clinics will receive up to $15,000. Program Design: Over 7 months, clinical teams will design and implement quality improvement initiatives that aim to improve the delivery of oral health services while addressing social determinants of health in their communities
