An Assessment of Participant-Described Interprofessional Oral Health Referral Systems Across Rurality

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Interprofessional practice
• Healthcare systems research

Background:

• Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPP) is increasingly vital in healthcare.
• Understanding medical-to-dental (M2D) referral networks is crucial for integrated oral health care.
• The functionality of M2D referrals in rural settings requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify oral health interprofessional collaborative practice (IPP).
• To examine medical-to-dental (M2D) referral networks and their function across different rurality levels.
• To compare M2D referral experiences between rural health clinics (RHCs) and other practice types.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey conducted in 2016 assessing IPP referral systems.
• Analysis of geographic, organizational, referral system, and respondent characteristics.
• Bivariable and multivariable statistical analyses performed using SAS.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (48.7%) of participants reported dependable M2D referral systems.
• Organization type and no-show rates significantly impacted referral dependability (P < .001).
• Accountable care organizations and federally qualified health clinics were more likely than RHCs to have dependable M2D referrals.

Conclusions:

• Medical-to-dental (M2D) referrals can be effective, even in rural areas.
• Dependability of M2D referral processes is significantly influenced by organization type, referral directionality, appointment no-show rates, and electronic health information management.
• IPP in oral health is a promoted aspect of the current healthcare environment.