G-2309-19781

Dignity Health Foundation serves patients in Arizona’s East Valley (Phoenix) by ensuring coordinated, comprehensive care for patients served by Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, and their associated outreach programs. Through implementation of Dignity Health’s ICU Oral Care project, there are opportunities for advancing integrated and person-centered models of care in Arizona and nationally.
In 2019, Dignity Health launched a grant-funded pilot program that embedded Critical Care Dental Hygienists into the Medical and Trauma Intensive Care Units at Chandler Regional Medical Center. The pilot project demonstrated improved oral health knowledge, practice, and attitude among nurses; improved bedside oral exam scores among patients, which indicated improved oral health conditions of patients from the implemented oral care protocol; and lower costs for oral care supplies. The next step is to bring the ICU Oral Care model to the larger healthcare system state and nationwide. This project would aim to analyze data to demonstrate the benefits are greater than the costs. Data collection and analysis would focus on health outcomes {reduction in infection-related ventilator association complications (IVAC), reduction in possible ventilator-associated pneumonia (PVAP), improvement in patient oral conditions (gums, teeth, oral odor)}, medical integration (improved ICU nurse knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding oral care), cost reduction in hospital length of stay, and reduction in cost of dental industry oral care supplies versus medical supplies.
The ICU Oral Care project will embed Registered Dental Hygienists into the Medical and Trauma Intensive Care Units at Dignity Health, Chandler Regional Medical Center (CRMC). Critical Care Dental Hygienists will provide oral health care to patients with advanced airways to reduce the incidence of Infection-Related Ventilator Association Complications (IVAC) and Possible Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (PVAP). The project will implement the evidence-based Bedside Oral Exam and Oral Care Protocol which was shown to decrease incidence of Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia and decrease the cost of oral hygiene supplies by 52%. Priority activities include modifying hospital policy and procedures on oral care, implementing protocols for bedside exam and care, educating nurses on oral care procedures that remove bacteria and reduce infection, collecting and analyzing data that can be leveraged to advocate for policy and payor change, and training the next generation of dental hygienists in integrated care.
This request is for $134,000, which is about 3% of the organization’s overall budget. The grant funds will support staffing costs for Project Director at 25% and staffing costs for Critical Care Hygienists.