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Registered Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice
(RDHAP): Current and Future Contributions to Increasing Access to Dental
Care
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Preliminary Data from the RDHAP Comparison as
presented at the 2007 National Oral Health Conference.
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Background:
Lack of access to dental care is a persistent problem for vulnerable populations
in California resulting in extensive untreated dental disease, particularly
in children. To address this, the State has invested in multiple programs
and policies aimed at improving access to dental treatment. A complementary
strategy is to promote disease prevention by increasing the availability
of preventive services in a variety of non-dental office settings. The
development of the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice
(RDHAP) is one such endeavor. California is a unique testing ground for
this new model of dental hygiene practice. It is critical that policy
makers understand this new effort and provide support for new strategies
to meet the oral health needs of our growing and diverse population.
Project Scope:
This study seeks to examine the impact that RDHAPs currently have on expanding
access to care for vulnerable populations and to examine the policies
and/or administrative issues that may be preventing them from effectively
delivering prevention services in areas of need. The aims of this research
project are:
- To profile the existing RDHAP workforce in contrast to the general
RDH workforce with the purpose of better understanding the practice
settings, practice types, populations served, and clinical service provision
that are unique to RDHAPs. We will also examine the service provision
by RDHs working in non-traditional settings.
- Review and summarize policies pertaining to RDHAPs and develop recommendations
for policy makers on improving RDHAPs’ current and future contributions
to improving access to preventive dental care for underserved populations
in California.
A final report is expected in November 2007.
Project Staff:
Beth Mertz,
MA, Principal Investigator
Marie
Hollero, Project Assistant
Funding:
This project is funded by the California Program on Access to Care, (CPAC),
California Research Policy Center, University of California Office of
the President. Project Number FNN03A. http://www.ucop.edu/cprc/cpac.html
For more information please contact Beth Mertz at 415-502-7934
or bmertz@thecenter.ucsf.edu
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