Poor oral health is linked to diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, heart disease, childhood illnesses, even lost school and work hours — yet oral health can be an isolated, and often too neglected, part of health care.
The Virginia Oral Health Coalition (VaOHC) seeks medical and dental providers to join a Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) to guide our efforts to integrate oral health services, education and referrals into every applicable health care setting. Specifically, members of the CAB will weigh in on practice integration guidelines, referral protocols and strategies to support integration as it relates to their clinical specialty. Members of the CAB will also have the opportunity to share their expertise in continuing professional development and speaking engagements, as their time allows.
VaOHC is an alliance of hundreds of individuals and organizational partners who believe oral health is an essential part of overall health care. We strive to improve overall health by integrating oral health services, education and referrals into all aspects of health care – enabling Virginians of all ages and abilities to achieve optimal oral health. We achieve this through advocacy, provider education and public awareness.
We invite you to become a clinical advisor to VaOHC – your expertise and knowledge can help ensure that oral health is included as a vital component of patient-centered care.
About VaOHC
VaOHC’s alliance of partners strives to integrate oral health into all aspects of health care through provider education, public awareness and advocacy efforts. Specific activities include:
- Advocating for comprehensive dental benefits for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid and FAMIS MOMS;
- Developing solutions to reduce unnecessary emergency department use for dental-related issues in Virginia;
- Educating dental providers to comfortably treat young children, pregnant women and adults with developmental disabilities; and,
- Training pediatric providers on how to integrate oral health services and referrals into their practice.
In VaOHC’s short life (three years!), these efforts are making an impact. Of note, 50 percent more physicians in Virginia are incorporating oral health services in their well-child visits by applying fluoride varnish and referring young children to early dental homes, and over 1,000 future medical providers enrolled in academic institutions throughout the state are now learning to integrate oral health into patient-centered medical care. Just one of these 1,000 providers will see over 3,500 patients a year.
If you are interested in joining the CAB, please complete and return this form by Friday, September 19, 2014; a complete description of CAB responsibilities is included on the form. The group will meet in-person once a year in Richmond and communicate via email and phone, as needed. CAB members may serve as faculty presenters for continuing education and community events, as time allows. Please contact Sarah Bedard Holland at 804.269.8721 or sholland@vaoralhealth.org with questions.
