A10 Low Income Dental Program Successes and Challenges

Low Income Dental Program Successes and Challenges

Primary Health Care Conference June 5, 2013

Catherine Danbrook, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes

Overview • • • • • •

Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Beginning of Journey Current environment Barriers and enablers for success Lessons learned Goals for future

Who Are We

Where We Work

A Profile of our Population • 3,083 sq kms • Pop 73,000 ..rural and remote • Exacerbated by isolation, low income, and lack of access to care • Over 14% of the population are seniors aged 65 years and over • Higher prevalence of obesity, COPD, diabetes and high blood pressure than Ontario average • Chronic conditions account for 6/10 deaths and 1/4 acute hospital days

• No fluoridated municipal water systems • % children in families below LICO =10 • Mean family income $52,024 • Lone parent mean income $36,450 • Not completed high school 18% • # children with early childhood tooth decay requiring treatment 17.6% • Less than 1% use public transit

5

Delivery Model Affordable dentistry services geared to low-income individuals in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Serving clients who are eligible for dental services under: Ontario Works Healthy Smiles Ontario Ontario Disability Support Program Children in Need of Treatment Non insured Self pay Monday – Friday service 0830 hrs – 1630 hrs 1702 clients since October 2011

Contract with Health Department Health Department: • Responsible for capital cost • Administer HSO program with flow thru funds to partner agencies • Provide professional expertise

CCCKL: • Project planning design construction • Provide space/staff • Responsible for facility, administrative costs and ongoing equipment and supplies • Cooperate with HD • Ensure service priority to publicly funded programs • Provide HD annual report on service utilization

Planning Principles • • • •

$ 292,000 from HD for 3 operatory clinic $2000 dental revenue/day Dentist reimbursed at 50% collectables Dental Hygienist billing 50% revenue in excess of salary • Operate 3days /week • Collaborative partnerships • Focus on quality /best practice

Lessons Learned Challenges – Operating funding deficit – Recruitment – Community dentists – Clarifying eligibility – Lack of standardized outcomes/performanc e measures – Technology – Engaging HD in program partnership opportunities

Successes – 1720 clients – Build networks – Empower staff, volunteers, clients to create new solutions – Change management – Successful recruitment – Oral health a cornerstone of our health promotion activity

Stay the Course and Keep the Vision • Shared vision • Advocacy with AOHC • Continue to encourage HD to provide resources to integrate our prevention and promotion activities

• • • – • • •

No one solution …. local circumstances Take a risk Sustained positive working relationships Dialogue/collaboration/teamwork Measure your value Ensure efficiencies of practice Build care continuum based on client's experience.. linking Dental clients to other elements of CCCKL programs