Creative new ways to serve patients amidst COVID-19: Integration, community outreach, and healthy kids
“Necessity is the mother of invention.” – Plato’s Republic
COVID-19 created a swift and immense shift in our traditional dental care delivery system. Social distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements are now barriers impacting utilization of dental services within our network.
These barriers have forced us to think outside the box and ingenious new ways of serving our members have sprouted from creativity! With the support of CareOregon Dental, Clackamas Health Centers’ (CHC) dental program partnered with primary care to provide patients the opportunity to engage in an innovative new clinic structure: An outdoor Immunization/Dental pediatric clinic providing patients the opportunity to receive preventive dental services (including cleanings and exams) alongside immunizations, all in one appointment, at their Gladstone location.
The new structure offers a safe alternative environment for patients to receive services and furthers our unified efforts toward oral health integration into whole-person care. Through this clinic, CHC will provide care, improve access, and address any further needs their patients may have while practicing social distancing.
An integrated outreach approach streamlines processes to best support patients. Through this program, outreach will be more efficient, help eliminate redundancies, lower patient abrasion and lessen confusion between care teams. And our members will get the care they need – safely.
