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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Dental workforce

Strengthening the Entry-Level Health Care Workforce: Finding a Path
Examines gaps in the existing healthcare workforce, challenges facing entry-level healthcare workers (EHCW), current EHCW training programs and contexts where training programs are used effectively, and strategies and policy opportunities to strengthen the EHCW. Includes rural references throughout and case studies for programs in rural Alaska and Washington. Provides an interactive inventory of existing policies and programs that support EHCW training, recruitment, and retention.
Additional links: Entry-Level Health Care Workforce: Information and Programs Visualization Tool
Author(s): Shira H. Fischer, Ryan K. McBain, Laura J. Faherty, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Medical-Dental Integration Manual
Provides guidance to North Dakota's rural primary care providers looking to integrate a dental hygienist into their practice. Highlights rules and regulations, billing, scope of practice, and workflow issues, among other topics.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Dakota Department of Health, University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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How Evidence-based Is US Dental Workforce Policy for Rural Communities?
Examines the alignment of policy and infrastructure with evidence-based strategies to promote access to oral health services for rural people. Focuses on best practices as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation of workforce strategies to increase the availability of services. Presents a scoping review of the evidence behind key strategies in the U.S. health policy context.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Ginachukwa Amah, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Evaluation of Dental Student Rotations in North Dakota Federally Qualified Health Centers
Report details the rotations of dental students in North Dakota's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Highlights oral health providers shortages and discusses barriers to North Dakota FQHCs attracting dental students both pre- and post-rotation.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Shane Knutson
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Innovative Health Care Provider Roles
Discusses healthcare provider types that might have the potential to benefit rural communities including community health workers, community paramedics, patient advocates, health coaches, and dental therapists.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Tennessee Federal Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental
County-level map with shadings showing low-income population or geographic Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Idaho Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) FY21 Dental Health Eligible Areas
County-level map with shadings showing dental geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), population group HPSAs, and ineligible areas.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
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Organizational Readiness to Implement System Changes in an Alaskan Tribal Dental Care Organization
Study of an Alaska tribal dental care organization's readiness for system-level changes based on surveys of dental providers, assistants, and support staff employed by the organization at 15 clinics in remote villages and 3 main dental clinics located in cities. Discusses perceptions of staff regarding workforce issues and support for change related to policies and evidence-based practices. Scores each area of readiness for change based on survey data, including organizational functioning, resources, and management.
Author(s): C.L. Randall, K. Hort, C.E. Huebner, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 5(2), 156-165
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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Consumer Survey Focused on Parents' Experiences Accessing Oral Health Services for Their Children
Highlights oral health access barriers for children, especially those in rural and underserved areas, minorities, and those with special healthcare needs. Features statistics including socioeconomic and geographic characteristics of 1,881 survey parents or guardians, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural residence.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Nubia Goodwin
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Rural Rotation Program: Utah Medical Education Council, 2007-2020
Report provides data on clinical rural rotations for medical and dental residents, pharmacy students, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurse students, and medical students, from 2007-2020.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Utah Health Workforce Information Center
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