G-2405-21798

The University of Florida Foundation was founded in 1934 to strengthen, benefit and assist the University of Florida. The College of Public Health and Health Professions, specifically the Department of Health Services Research, Management, and Policy, plays a crucial role in this initiative. This department focuses on improving healthcare delivery and outcomes through research, policy analysis, and management strategies. Their work includes evaluating healthcare systems, developing policies to enhance healthcare access and quality, and training future leaders in health services research and management. This collaboration strengthens the university’s commitment to comprehensive healthcare and research, ensuring that underserved populations receive the care they need.

The University of Florida Foundation, in partnership with the University of Minnesota, is proposing a comprehensive study to assess the impact of dental therapists (DTs) on achieving the Quadruple Aim in Minnesota and project their potential impact in Florida. The Quadruple Aim in dentistry, like its application in general healthcare, focuses on four key goals: enhancing patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs, and ensuring the well-being of dental care providers. The study aims to evaluate how DTs can improve access to affordable, patient-centered dental care, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Key components include a quantitative analysis in Minnesota to explore DT utilization trends and their impact on emergency room (ER) use and costs, and a counterfactual analysis for Florida to predict the impact of DTs on ER use and costs using a matched county design. Additionally, the study will compare the productivity and cost-effectiveness of DTs to other dental providers through practice-level surveys in Minnesota, and investigate patient and provider satisfaction, attitudes, and experiences with DTs through surveys, focus groups, and structured interviews.

The findings from the study will be synthesized in a comprehensive report and disseminated through academic journals, national conferences, and policy briefs. The project will engage with community leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders through meetings and presentations to share findings and gather feedback, with the goal of informing state-level policies and advocating for the integration of DTs into the dental workforce in Florida.

The recommended amount totals $143,000, a 18% reduction from the original requested amount. Funds will be allocated toward staff salaries, data collection and analysis, community engagement activities, and dissemination of findings. The request reflects less than 1% of the organization’s operating budget.

It’s important to note that the University of Florida Foundation was funded through a CareQuest Institute grant in 2023 as part of the Disability Justice and Inclusion in Oral Health RFP. The work proposed in this grant is led by a different team and does not overlap with the work of the Disability RFP team.