A new survey by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred greater awareness and concerns among dental providers who work in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other public health settings.
Some key findings from the report:
- Screening patients and staff for COVID-19 risk factors is more of a priority for public health dental professionals (PHDPs) than for providers in other types of settings. Over 85% of public PHDPs say screening is important, compared to 68% of other providers.
- More than 90% of PHDPs think it is important to secure and properly use PPE and to clean and disinfect dental operatories, while only three-quarters of providers in other types of practices view these tasks as important.
- Among PHDPs, 53% are currently using teledentistry or plan to use it soon, compared to 32% of other providers.
The outcomes of the survey demonstrate the continuing need for providers to innovate during the pandemic and beyond. Teledentistry and alternative payment models such as value-based care are examples of ways to embrace the changes that resulted from the pandemic.
You may also be interested in:
- A Difficult Path to COVID-19 Recovery, a report that explores the ways COVID-19 has changed how dentists will practice going forward.
- Teledentistry Use Gains Traction During COVID-19 highlights the continued value of telehealth and its opportunity to provide additional revenue while enhancing dental care access for current and new patients.
- Oral Health Value-Based Care: The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Story explains how and why community health centers are often well-positioned to adopt value-based care.
