Interprofessional value-based health care: Nurse practitioner-dentist model.

Area of Science:

• Oral health integration
• Value-based healthcare (VBHC)
• Interprofessional practice models

Background:

• US healthcare system faces challenges in improving patient health, care experience, and reducing costs.
• Value-based healthcare (VBHC) models are proposed solutions, but dental care lags in adoption.
• Oral health integration with primary care is crucial for achieving the Triple Aim.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present findings of an interprofessional practice model integrating oral health and primary care.
• To discuss implications for advancing VBHC in oral health.
• To evaluate the Nurse Practitioner-Dentist (NPD) Model for Primary Care.

Main Methods:

• Nonexperimental research with a pretest/post-test design.
• Evaluation of the Nurse Practitioner-Dentist (NPD) Model at Harvard Dental Center.
• Assessed clinical outcomes (blood pressure, weight, BMI, HbA1c) in Medicare beneficiaries with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in blood pressure.
• Positive changes noted in body weight and body mass index (BMI).
• Demonstrated improvements in Hemoglobin A1c levels.

Conclusions:

• The NPD Model serves as an early prototype for interprofessional VBHC in oral health.
• This model shows potential for enhancing patient and population health outcomes.
• Integrating VBHC in oral health is essential for national health improvement.