INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE. A PATHWAY TO BETTER PATIENT CARE, IMPROVED HEALTH, AND LOWER COSTS.

Abstract

Dentistry usually concerns itself with managing the scope of practice relationships with areas historically performed by dentists as solo practitioners. Many trends in health care-such as electronic records, Big Data, consolidated reimbursement systems, effective but expensive technology, the economies of group practice-are now overwhelming the boundaries of tasks performed in isolation. The Commission on Dental Accreditation has added a standard that dental education programs must prepare professionals to function in these new environments.