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
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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