Feasibility of an innovative medical dental integration program to provide overdue adolescent vaccinations in a federally qualified health center.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility of a medical dental integration program to provide overdue vaccinations to adolescents ages 9-17 and evaluate the facilitators and barriers to the process.

Methods: The program was developed and implemented at one dental clinic co-located within a medical clinic at a federally qualified healthcare center in Denver, Colorado. Utilizing a shared electronic health record, human papillomavirus, meningococcal, and/or tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccines were recommended by dental providers and then administered by the medical team. Plan-do-study-act cycles informed implementation. Descriptive analyses of eligible patients were performed and run charts were used track process implementation outcomes.

Results: One hundred and sixty eligible adolescents were identified during a 6-month period. Overall, 29 patients (18%) received 41 vaccines. Process facilitators included staff buy-in and individual provider feedback and barriers included staff shortages and family vaccine refusal/preference to receive vaccines in the medical home.

Conclusions: Many adolescents see dental providers more than their primary care providers, creating an opportunity to vaccinate adolescents overdue for immunizations during dental visits. A medical dental integration program to provide adolescent vaccinations was feasible in a federally qualified health center with co-located medical and dental services. Expansion to diverse healthcare settings is necessary to further explore implementation outcomes.