Digital Commons Network^™

Oral Health Intervention: A Multifaceted Approach To Improve Oral Health Care During Pregnancy, Tabitha Ford, Gregory Frechette, Sruthi Sakamori, Caleb Seufert, I-Hsiang Shu, Patrick Silveira, Wendy Davis, Kristin Fontaine

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction:

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease of childhood

Mothers’ oral health status is a strong predictor of the oral health status of their children

2009:

Vermont spends $2.7 million treating children ages 0-5 with Early Childhood Caries

2012:

Vermont lifts the $495 Medicaid cap on reimbursement for a woman’s dental care during pregnancy and up to 60 days after delivery

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Guidelines on prenatal dental care are published

2013:

74% of surveyed Vermont providers treating pregnant women are unaware of the Medicaid change

82% of these providers are not …

Parental Perceptions Of Oral Health And School-Based Dental Sealant Programs, Laura Donnelly, Peter Evans, Ian Grant, Allicia Imeda, Daniel Kula, Clare Park, Hao Fang Wu, Julie Cole, Kristin Fontaine, Wendy Davis

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction:

Community Health Needs Assessment (University of Vermont Medical Center, 2013)

Identified oral health in pediatric population as a primary concern

Barriers to dental care cited: access, affordability, education School-Based Sealant Program (SBSP)

Dental sealants are an evidence-based method of cavity prevention

CDC strongly recommends delivery via SBSPs

Few Vermont schools have such a program

Vermont Medicaid State Plan amendment allows dental hygienists to bill without on-site dentist (2015)4

Unique opportunity to pilot an SBSP

Pilot program implemented by the University of Vermont Medical Center Community Health Improvement

Goal: sustainable model able to be replicated in Vermont schools Pilot School …

Living In Recovery:Perceptions Of Health Care And Comorbidities In Rural New England, Theodore Cisu, Elizabeth Doughty, Rahul Gentyala, Kathleen Olson, Kishan Patel, Taylor Wolfgang, Richard Yun, Gary Decarolis, Jill Jemison

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction:

Alcohol and Drug Abuse: In the USA, abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly, exacting more than $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and health care.

9% of Vermont residents and 8% of US residents report alcohol or illicit drug abuse, and 10% of US adults consider themselves to be in recovery from drugs or alcohol.

Health Care and Recovery: Persons with drug addictions are approximately twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders compared to the general population.

Aside from mental health disorders, other common comorbidities include dental problems, …

Creating A Welcoming Clinical Environment For Lgbt Patients, Samy S. Ramadan

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

The aim of this project was to develop a welcoming clinical environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patients at Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and to serve as a model for community health centers across the nation that want to provide their LGBT communities with patient centered care that is affordable, compassionate and accessible. This was achieved by revising non-discrimination policies and new patient forms to be more inclusive of sexual orientations and gender identities, incorporating LGBT health learning modules into yearly provider and staff mandatories, and adding LGBT inclusive material into all waiting and exam rooms. The …

Addressing Transportation Barriers To Healthcare In Windham County, Vt, Susannah Kricker

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Limited access to transportation presents a significant barrier to obtaining health care for residents of Windham County, Vermont. This project, created in collaboration with the community health team at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, VT, offers a comprehensive outline for a transportation assistance program in the region. It takes a multifaceted approach to overcoming barriers created by financial constraints and limited transportation resources.