Experiences of the Kansas Extended Care Permit Providers: A descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• 40 states have expanded dental hygienist roles to improve access to oral health services.
• Kansas implemented Extended Care Permit (ECP) designation through legislative changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experiences of registered dental hygienists in Kansas holding ECP certificates (ECP RDH) as of July 2014.
• To identify barriers encountered by ECP RDHs in providing care.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of a 2014 survey conducted by Oral Health Kansas.
• Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses (t-tests, ANOVA) of survey responses from ECP RDHs.

Main Results:

• A 41% response rate (73 of 176) was achieved.
• 80% of respondents worked part-time, often in school settings.
• Key barriers included inability to directly bill insurance (52%), financial sustainability (42%), and physical requirements (42%).

Conclusions:

• ECP legislation in Kansas shows potential for expanding access to oral care.
• Significant barriers remain, impacting the viability of the ECP model for oral healthcare delivery.