Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency
ABSTRACTBackground In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged bringing risk of disease, disability and death to all Americans. As public health officials scrambled to respond, dental offices were shuttered leaving little access to dental care.Methods Collaborating with medical colleagues and partn...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the California Dental Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2023.2173882 |
| _version_ | 1797271709011673088 |
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| author | Huong Le Mary E. Foley |
| author_facet | Huong Le Mary E. Foley |
| author_sort | Huong Le |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTBackground In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged bringing risk of disease, disability and death to all Americans. As public health officials scrambled to respond, dental offices were shuttered leaving little access to dental care.Methods Collaborating with medical colleagues and partnering with the local public health department, the Asian Health Services (AHS) dental team developed a preparedness plan to ensure the safe and effective ongoing delivery of oral health care services, respond to the national public health state of emergency and support local public health efforts to contain the pandemic.Results AHS dental services remained operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to the swift and strategic response of the dental team. COVID-19 contact tracing, testing and vaccination became new services rendered by dental personnel, which are now integrated into policies, programs and services. Professional education and training were also updated to ensure sustained preparedness.Conclusions By having a comprehensive and coordinated preparedness plan in place, AHS was able to effectively support public health efforts and serve the oral health care needs of the community.Practical Implications Preparedness efforts implemented by a coordinated effort between AHS’s medical and dental leadership in cooperation with local public health officials during the recent COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a future model for all health care professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:12:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd79b4753ce945b6b47a05c41bc4e246 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1942-4396 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:12:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the California Dental Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd79b4753ce945b6b47a05c41bc4e2462024-03-06T16:08:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the California Dental Association1942-43962023-12-0151110.1080/19424396.2023.2173882Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of EmergencyHuong Le0Mary E. Foley1Dental, Asian Health Services, Oakland, California, USAMedicaid, Medicare, CHIP Services Dental Association, Washington, DC, USAABSTRACTBackground In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged bringing risk of disease, disability and death to all Americans. As public health officials scrambled to respond, dental offices were shuttered leaving little access to dental care.Methods Collaborating with medical colleagues and partnering with the local public health department, the Asian Health Services (AHS) dental team developed a preparedness plan to ensure the safe and effective ongoing delivery of oral health care services, respond to the national public health state of emergency and support local public health efforts to contain the pandemic.Results AHS dental services remained operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to the swift and strategic response of the dental team. COVID-19 contact tracing, testing and vaccination became new services rendered by dental personnel, which are now integrated into policies, programs and services. Professional education and training were also updated to ensure sustained preparedness.Conclusions By having a comprehensive and coordinated preparedness plan in place, AHS was able to effectively support public health efforts and serve the oral health care needs of the community.Practical Implications Preparedness efforts implemented by a coordinated effort between AHS’s medical and dental leadership in cooperation with local public health officials during the recent COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a future model for all health care professionals.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2023.2173882Pandemicpublic healthDentistrypreparednesscoordination |
| spellingShingle | Huong Le Mary E. Foley Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency Journal of the California Dental Association Pandemic public health Dentistry preparedness coordination |
| title | Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency |
| title_full | Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency |
| title_fullStr | Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency |
| title_short | Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency |
| title_sort | preparedness plan ensures dental service sustainability during a public health state of emergency |
| topic | Pandemic public health Dentistry preparedness coordination |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2023.2173882 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huongle preparednessplanensuresdentalservicesustainabilityduringapublichealthstateofemergency AT maryefoley preparednessplanensuresdentalservicesustainabilityduringapublichealthstateofemergency |