Improving oral health screening and dental referrals for patients with diabetes in a community health clinic.

Background: Oral health screening and access to dental care in adults with diabetes lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life. Patients with barriers to accessing health services have a greater risk of poor medical and dental outcomes. People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease and less likely to visit a dentist.

Local problem: Oral screening and dental referrals were not being done at a community health clinic in Plano, Texas.

Methods: The aim of this 6-month quality-improvement project was to increase oral health screenings in adults with diabetes from 0% to 80%; subaim was to increase access to dental services by increasing referrals from 0% to 50%. Adults with diabetes without insurance or dental care in the past 12 months were eligible for the project ( n = 263). Outcome measures were tracked using a longitudinal chart.

Interventions: Eligible patients were screened and referred to a dental office with an income-based financial assistance program using Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology. Staff education, referral order set, and follow-up calls were additional processes implemented.

Results: Fifty-two percent of eligible patients were screened, 35.9% were referred to dental services, and 17.7% of those referred established care with dental clinic.

Conclusions: Interventions were successful in improving access to dental care, although target goal was not met. Creating systems that facilitate interdisciplinary care improved health equity and standards of health in chronic disease.