Improving Access to Dental Hygiene Services in the European Regional Dental Command Concurrent With Implementation of the U.S. Army Dental Care Reengineering Initiative.
Abstract
THE ARMY DENTAL CARE SYSTEM HAS HISTORICALLY PROVIDED QUALITY DENTAL CARE TO AMERICA'S ARMY AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO BEING A WORLD CLASS DENTAL CARE SYSTEM. IN RESPONSE TO RECENT DECREMENTS IN PERSONNEL AND FINANCIAL ASSETS, THE ARMY DENTAL CORPS IS TESTING THE DENTAL CARE REENGINEERING INITIATIVE (DCRI)--A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAXIMIZE CLINICAL EFFICIENCIES AND FACILITATE BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGH OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT. ONE OF THE UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DCRI IN EUROPE IS THE SHORTAGE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE HYGIENIST SHORTAGE. BY USING COMPUTER SIMULATION TO INVESTIGATE TWO PROPOSED STAFFING MODELS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS. THE FIRST WAS THE EUROPE PRIMARY CARE-DCRI STAFFING MODEL WHICH CONSISTED OF TWO DENTAL HYGIENISTS WORKING OUT OF TWO CHAIRS WITH THE BENEFIT OF A SHARED HYGIENE ASSISTANT. THE SECOND WAS THE EXPANDED HYGIENE MODEL WHICH CONSISTED OF ONE HYGIENIST WORKING OUT OF TWO CHAIRS WITH A HYGIENE ASSISTANT. THE EUROPE Primary Care-DCRI CARE MODEL DID NOT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT COULD BE TREATED BY THE TWO HYGIENISTS WORKING WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT. THE EXPANDED HYGIENE MODEL ALLOWS ONE HYGIENIST TO INCREASE PATIENT THROUGHPUT With THE POTENTIAL TO MEET THE HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS OF PATIENTS IMPANELED TO TWO PRIMARY CARE TEAMS. IT INCREASES ACCESS TO ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS THE PREFERRED HYGIENE STAFFING MODEL FOR THE EUROPEAN REGIONAL DENTAL COMMAND.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA372360
Entities
People
- Jimmie C. Schmidt
Organizations
- Academy of Health Sciences