Not listed
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - THE ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAINE HAS LONG BEEN FAILING TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF MAINERS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RURAL AREAS. IN 2019, MAINE RANKED 49TH AMONG US STATES ON THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES' NATIONAL "PDENT" MEASURE (% OF MEDICAID CHILDREN RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICE), REPORTING THAT ONLY 37% OF MAINECARE CHILDREN RECEIVED ANY PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES IN 2019. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LONG HISTORY, THE EXTRA CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 HAVE INCREASED ITS URGENCY. THE CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH NETWORK (COHN), WITH BACKBONE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HARRY E DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH, HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINICS AND LOCAL HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSTO LAUNCH A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL DENTAL HOMES. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL MODEL DEVELOPED BY DR. PAUL GLASSMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME (VDH) MODEL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROMISING PRACTICE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY'S RURAL HEALTH INFORMATION HUB. VDH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN WHICH CHILDREN BECOME ESTABLISHED PATIENTS WITH A DENTAL PRACTICE BUT RECEIVE THEIR PREVENTIVE CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE DENTAL OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS UNLESS THEY NEED MORE COMPLEX TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH ELIMINATES MANY OF THE LOGISTICAL BARRIERS THAT PARENTS IN RURAL MAINE COUNTIES FACE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO A DENTAL OFFICE FOR ROUTINE CARE. MAINE'S VDH PILOT WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN FIRST IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND THEN EXTENDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. LICENSED PUBLIC HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL DELIVER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES USING TEL EHEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO SHARE PHOTOS, IMAGES, AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH DENTISTS AT AN OFFICE LOCATION. THE DENTIST WILL COMPLETE THE EXAM REMOTELY AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE AS NEEDED. WHEN MORE COMPLEX DENTAL TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, CHILDREN WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY THE DENTIST AT THE DENTAL OFFICE. BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES, WE EXPECT THAT 75% OF THE CARE THAT CHILDREN NEED CAN BE DELIVERED ON-SITE IN THEIR SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DEFINE A DENTAL HOME AS "THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENTIST AND THE PATIENT, INCLUSIVE OF ALL ASPECTS OF ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERED IN A COMPREHENSIVE, CONTINUOUSLY ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WAY." OUR VDH PROJECT STRIVES TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF MAINE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON IT. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING WITH THE STARTUP COSTS FOR LAUNCHING THIS MODEL IN 8 RURAL COUNTIES, COHN WILL ENGAGE A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT: EVALUATION (PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH); ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (NEW ENGLAND TELEHEALTH RESOURCE CENTER); INTEGRATION OF VDH MODEL INTO DENTAL AND HYGIENE CURRICULA (UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AUGUSTA); AND PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF VDH INTO SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS (MEDICAL CARE DEVELOPMENT, INC.). ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A DENTAL HOME; THE MANY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS ASPIRATION A REALITY AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR SHARED VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN IN MAINE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM PREVENTABLE DENTAL DISEASE.
$0 6/8/23 Not listed
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - THE ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAINE HAS LONG BEEN FAILING TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF MAINERS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RURAL AREAS. IN 2019, MAINE RANKED 49TH AMONG US STATES ON THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES' NATIONAL "PDENT" MEASURE (% OF MEDICAID CHILDREN RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICE), REPORTING THAT ONLY 37% OF MAINECARE CHILDREN RECEIVED ANY PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES IN 2019. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LONG HISTORY, THE EXTRA CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 HAVE INCREASED ITS URGENCY. THE CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH NETWORK (COHN), WITH BACKBONE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HARRY E DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH, HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINICS AND LOCAL HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSTO LAUNCH A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL DENTAL HOMES. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL MODEL DEVELOPED BY DR. PAUL GLASSMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME (VDH) MODEL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROMISING PRACTICE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY'S RURAL HEALTH INFORMATION HUB. VDH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN WHICH CHILDREN BECOME ESTABLISHED PATIENTS WITH A DENTAL PRACTICE BUT RECEIVE THEIR PREVENTIVE CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE DENTAL OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS UNLESS THEY NEED MORE COMPLEX TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH ELIMINATES MANY OF THE LOGISTICAL BARRIERS THAT PARENTS IN RURAL MAINE COUNTIES FACE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO A DENTAL OFFICE FOR ROUTINE CARE. MAINE'S VDH PILOT WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN FIRST IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND THEN EXTENDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. LICENSED PUBLIC HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL DELIVER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES USING TEL EHEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO SHARE PHOTOS, IMAGES, AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH DENTISTS AT AN OFFICE LOCATION. THE DENTIST WILL COMPLETE THE EXAM REMOTELY AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE AS NEEDED. WHEN MORE COMPLEX DENTAL TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, CHILDREN WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY THE DENTIST AT THE DENTAL OFFICE. BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES, WE EXPECT THAT 75% OF THE CARE THAT CHILDREN NEED CAN BE DELIVERED ON-SITE IN THEIR SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DEFINE A DENTAL HOME AS "THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENTIST AND THE PATIENT, INCLUSIVE OF ALL ASPECTS OF ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERED IN A COMPREHENSIVE, CONTINUOUSLY ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WAY." OUR VDH PROJECT STRIVES TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF MAINE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON IT. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING WITH THE STARTUP COSTS FOR LAUNCHING THIS MODEL IN 8 RURAL COUNTIES, COHN WILL ENGAGE A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT: EVALUATION (PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH); ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (NEW ENGLAND TELEHEALTH RESOURCE CENTER); INTEGRATION OF VDH MODEL INTO DENTAL AND HYGIENE CURRICULA (UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AUGUSTA); AND PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF VDH INTO SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS (MEDICAL CARE DEVELOPMENT, INC.). ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A DENTAL HOME; THE MANY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS ASPIRATION A REALITY AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR SHARED VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN IN MAINE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM PREVENTABLE DENTAL DISEASE.
$0 4/28/23 Not listed
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - THE ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAINE HAS LONG BEEN FAILING TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF MAINERS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RURAL AREAS. IN 2019, MAINE RANKED 49TH AMONG US STATES ON THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES' NATIONAL "PDENT" MEASURE (% OF MEDICAID CHILDREN RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICE), REPORTING THAT ONLY 37% OF MAINECARE CHILDREN RECEIVED ANY PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES IN 2019. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LONG HISTORY, THE EXTRA CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 HAVE INCREASED ITS URGENCY. THE CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH NETWORK (COHN), WITH BACKBONE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HARRY E DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH, HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINICS AND LOCAL HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSTO LAUNCH A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL DENTAL HOMES. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL MODEL DEVELOPED BY DR. PAUL GLASSMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME (VDH) MODEL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROMISING PRACTICE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY'S RURAL HEALTH INFORMATION HUB. VDH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN WHICH CHILDREN BECOME ESTABLISHED PATIENTS WITH A DENTAL PRACTICE BUT RECEIVE THEIR PREVENTIVE CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE DENTAL OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS UNLESS THEY NEED MORE COMPLEX TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH ELIMINATES MANY OF THE LOGISTICAL BARRIERS THAT PARENTS IN RURAL MAINE COUNTIES FACE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO A DENTAL OFFICE FOR ROUTINE CARE. MAINE'S VDH PILOT WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN FIRST IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND THEN EXTENDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. LICENSED PUBLIC HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL DELIVER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES USING TEL EHEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO SHARE PHOTOS, IMAGES, AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH DENTISTS AT AN OFFICE LOCATION. THE DENTIST WILL COMPLETE THE EXAM REMOTELY AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE AS NEEDED. WHEN MORE COMPLEX DENTAL TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, CHILDREN WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY THE DENTIST AT THE DENTAL OFFICE. BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES, WE EXPECT THAT 75% OF THE CARE THAT CHILDREN NEED CAN BE DELIVERED ON-SITE IN THEIR SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DEFINE A DENTAL HOME AS "THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENTIST AND THE PATIENT, INCLUSIVE OF ALL ASPECTS OF ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERED IN A COMPREHENSIVE, CONTINUOUSLY ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WAY." OUR VDH PROJECT STRIVES TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF MAINE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON IT. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING WITH THE STARTUP COSTS FOR LAUNCHING THIS MODEL IN 8 RURAL COUNTIES, COHN WILL ENGAGE A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT: EVALUATION (PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH); ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (NEW ENGLAND TELEHEALTH RESOURCE CENTER); INTEGRATION OF VDH MODEL INTO DENTAL AND HYGIENE CURRICULA (UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AUGUSTA); AND PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF VDH INTO SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS (MEDICAL CARE DEVELOPMENT, INC.). ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A DENTAL HOME; THE MANY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS ASPIRATION A REALITY AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR SHARED VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN IN MAINE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM PREVENTABLE DENTAL DISEASE.
$0 4/28/23 Not listed
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - THE ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAINE HAS LONG BEEN FAILING TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF MAINERS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RURAL AREAS. IN 2019, MAINE RANKED 49TH AMONG US STATES ON THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES' NATIONAL "PDENT" MEASURE (% OF MEDICAID CHILDREN RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICE), REPORTING THAT ONLY 37% OF MAINECARE CHILDREN RECEIVED ANY PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES IN 2019. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LONG HISTORY, THE EXTRA CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 HAVE INCREASED ITS URGENCY. THE CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH NETWORK (COHN), WITH BACKBONE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HARRY E DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH, HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINICS AND LOCAL HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSTO LAUNCH A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL DENTAL HOMES. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL MODEL DEVELOPED BY DR. PAUL GLASSMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME (VDH) MODEL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROMISING PRACTICE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY'S RURAL HEALTH INFORMATION HUB. VDH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN WHICH CHILDREN BECOME ESTABLISHED PATIENTS WITH A DENTAL PRACTICE BUT RECEIVE THEIR PREVENTIVE CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE DENTAL OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS UNLESS THEY NEED MORE COMPLEX TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH ELIMINATES MANY OF THE LOGISTICAL BARRIERS THAT PARENTS IN RURAL MAINE COUNTIES FACE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO A DENTAL OFFICE FOR ROUTINE CARE. MAINE'S VDH PILOT WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN FIRST IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND THEN EXTENDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. LICENSED PUBLIC HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL DELIVER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES USING TEL EHEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO SHARE PHOTOS, IMAGES, AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH DENTISTS AT AN OFFICE LOCATION. THE DENTIST WILL COMPLETE THE EXAM REMOTELY AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE AS NEEDED. WHEN MORE COMPLEX DENTAL TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, CHILDREN WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY THE DENTIST AT THE DENTAL OFFICE. BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES, WE EXPECT THAT 75% OF THE CARE THAT CHILDREN NEED CAN BE DELIVERED ON-SITE IN THEIR SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DEFINE A DENTAL HOME AS "THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENTIST AND THE PATIENT, INCLUSIVE OF ALL ASPECTS OF ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERED IN A COMPREHENSIVE, CONTINUOUSLY ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WAY." OUR VDH PROJECT STRIVES TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF MAINE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON IT. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING WITH THE STARTUP COSTS FOR LAUNCHING THIS MODEL IN 8 RURAL COUNTIES, COHN WILL ENGAGE A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT: EVALUATION (PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH); ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (NEW ENGLAND TELEHEALTH RESOURCE CENTER); INTEGRATION OF VDH MODEL INTO DENTAL AND HYGIENE CURRICULA (UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AUGUSTA); AND PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF VDH INTO SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS (MEDICAL CARE DEVELOPMENT, INC.). ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A DENTAL HOME; THE MANY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS ASPIRATION A REALITY AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR SHARED VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN IN MAINE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM PREVENTABLE DENTAL DISEASE.
$0 11/7/22 Not listed
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - THE ORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAINE HAS LONG BEEN FAILING TO SERVE THE MAJORITY OF MAINERS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND RURAL AREAS. IN 2019, MAINE RANKED 49TH AMONG US STATES ON THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES' NATIONAL "PDENT" MEASURE (% OF MEDICAID CHILDREN RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICE), REPORTING THAT ONLY 37% OF MAINECARE CHILDREN RECEIVED ANY PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES IN 2019. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LONG HISTORY, THE EXTRA CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 HAVE INCREASED ITS URGENCY. THE CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH NETWORK (COHN), WITH BACKBONE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HARRY E DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH, HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINICS AND LOCAL HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSTO LAUNCH A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL DENTAL HOMES. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL MODEL DEVELOPED BY DR. PAUL GLASSMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME (VDH) MODEL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROMISING PRACTICE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AND THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY'S RURAL HEALTH INFORMATION HUB. VDH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN WHICH CHILDREN BECOME ESTABLISHED PATIENTS WITH A DENTAL PRACTICE BUT RECEIVE THEIR PREVENTIVE CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE DENTAL OFFICE FOR APPOINTMENTS UNLESS THEY NEED MORE COMPLEX TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH ELIMINATES MANY OF THE LOGISTICAL BARRIERS THAT PARENTS IN RURAL MAINE COUNTIES FACE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO A DENTAL OFFICE FOR ROUTINE CARE. MAINE'S VDH PILOT WILL BEGIN SERVING CHILDREN FIRST IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND THEN EXTENDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. LICENSED PUBLIC HEALTH AND INDEPENDENT PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL DELIVER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES USING TEL EHEALTH TECHNOLOGY TO SHARE PHOTOS, IMAGES, AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH DENTISTS AT AN OFFICE LOCATION. THE DENTIST WILL COMPLETE THE EXAM REMOTELY AND CREATE A TREATMENT PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE AS NEEDED. WHEN MORE COMPLEX DENTAL TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, CHILDREN WILL BE SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY THE DENTIST AT THE DENTAL OFFICE. BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES, WE EXPECT THAT 75% OF THE CARE THAT CHILDREN NEED CAN BE DELIVERED ON-SITE IN THEIR SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTS DEFINE A DENTAL HOME AS "THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DENTIST AND THE PATIENT, INCLUSIVE OF ALL ASPECTS OF ORAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERED IN A COMPREHENSIVE, CONTINUOUSLY ACCESSIBLE, COORDINATED, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WAY." OUR VDH PROJECT STRIVES TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF MAINE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON IT. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING WITH THE STARTUP COSTS FOR LAUNCHING THIS MODEL IN 8 RURAL COUNTIES, COHN WILL ENGAGE A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT: EVALUATION (PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH); ELECTRONIC DATA RECORD ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION (NEW ENGLAND TELEHEALTH RESOURCE CENTER); INTEGRATION OF VDH MODEL INTO DENTAL AND HYGIENE CURRICULA (UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AUGUSTA); AND PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF VDH INTO SCHOOL AND PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS (MEDICAL CARE DEVELOPMENT, INC.). ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO HAVE A DENTAL HOME; THE MANY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS ASPIRATION A REALITY AS WE WORK TOWARD OUR SHARED VISION THAT ALL CHILDREN IN MAINE CAN GROW UP FREE FROM PREVENTABLE DENTAL DISEASE.
$0 11/7/22