An analysis of the medical-dental referral process to a rural, community health center dental program.
Abstract
Objectives: To identify and quantify the medical to dental referral process at a rural, federally qualified health center.
Methods/Materials: A two-year prospective-questionnaire analysis was completed with willing participants from medical and dental care teams, as well as, patients and guardians. Each group of participants completed a questionnaire related to the referral encounter.
Results: A total of 146 referrals were received with 120 patients keeping their appointment. The PCTs’ oral health description revealed an accuracy rate of 66.7% compared to the dental team final diagnosis. No instance of periodontal/gingival descriptions was received by the PCTs. The patients’ report revealed that they were surprised by the PCTs and dental care teams communicating with each other and stated that they highly valued the process. Medical providers stated they felt more empowered to address oral health needs with a dental care referral network in place.
Discussion: Treatment plan completion rates were found to decrease when patients required a secondary or specialty referral. Broken appointments correlated with an increase in the number of days from medical referral to dental care appointment. The completed patient questionnaires demonstrated that cost of care and dental site culture impacts a patient’s desire to continue seeing a dentist or completing needed care.
Conclusion: Difficulties with referrals in dentistry and medicine are commonly reported. It is important to regularly evaluate the referral process to gauge needed areas of improvement. In order for interprofessional practice to be successful, the bi-directional referral process must undergo consistent quality development and improvement.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18103/imr.v0i5.102
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