Population Health Management Tools to Support School-Based Oral Health Partnerships and Address Disparities.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Dental Public Health
• Health Management

Background:

• Dental caries (cavities) are common in US children, with increasing rates in younger populations.
• Significant oral health disparities exist for low-income, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic/Latinx children.
• The use of preventive measures like dental sealants is low, even in school-based programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of a population health management (PHM) framework for school-based oral health interventions.
• To develop a conceptual model for targeted case management to reduce oral health disparities in children.
• To assess the utility of PHM tools in a school-based oral health program.

Main Methods:

• A population health management (PHM) framework was utilized to guide a school-based oral health intervention.
• PHM-oriented tools were integrated into a case management intervention developed by the Oral Health Forum (OHF) in Chicago from 2014-2019.
• The intervention incorporated community partnerships, case management staffing, oral health education, outreach, and training for Community Dental Health Coordinators.

Main Results:

• A school-based oral health partnership targeting high-need children was successfully implemented using a PHM framework.
• PHM tools informed the integration of various components, including community engagement and specialized training.
• The intervention demonstrated a model for addressing oral health disparities within a school setting.

Conclusions:

• The population health management (PHM) framework effectively supported a targeted, school-based oral health intervention.
• School-based health programs in areas with high caries rates should consider adopting PHM tools.
• This approach holds promise for reducing oral health disparities among vulnerable student populations.