Evaluation of a Care Coordination Initiative in Improving Access to Dental Care for Persons with Disability

Caroline Gondlach, Céline Catteau, Martine Hennequin and Denise Faulks
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Caroline Gondlach: General dental practitioner, 42260 Saint Germain Laval, France
Céline Catteau: Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Lille 2, 59000 Lille, France
Martine Hennequin: Centre for Clinical Research in Dentistry CROC, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Denise Faulks: Centre for Clinical Research in Dentistry CROC, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-9

Abstract: In French law, the state is responsible for ensuring equal access to health care for people with disabilities. No system exists within dentistry to guarantee this—there are no salaried public service workers, over 85% of dentists work in general practice, and hospital dentistry is poorly developed. Public funding is available for care coordination initiatives termed “Health Networks”. The objective of this study is to report on an internal evaluation of the Réseau Santé Bucco-Dentaire et Handicap de la région Rhône-Alpes (RSBDH), a Health Network coordinating dentistry for persons with disability in the Rhône-Alpes region, and to discuss the French model of Health Networks as a response to improve access to care. Existing governmental guidelines for the evaluation of Networks were adapted for the RSBDH. The RSBDH coordinated dentists to ensure screening, prevention, and treatment for 3219 persons with disability in 2015. Identified strengths included the identification of vulnerable persons, improved access to treatment and collaboration with primary care services. Weaknesses included training of professionals, continuity of care, information sharing, and stakeholder participation. In 2015, the cost was €501 per patient. This model raises major issues of cost, training, equity, and quality of care within special care dentistry. This discussion is relevant to many countries where models of service provision are currently being developed.

Keywords: disability; oral health; care coordination initiative; access to care; equity of healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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