Here are 10 updates on the advancement of integrated medical-dental care from this year:
1. PDS Health Technologies, part of Henderson, Nev.-based PDS Health, partnered with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry to implement Epic for integrated healthcare.
2. The FDI World Dental Federation urged health systems to include oral health indicators in EHRs. The eight key indicators that the organization wants to see integrated are periodontal disease, caries, oral cancer screenings, oral health status, medical devices and implants information, prescription data, allergy information and radiographic imaging.
3. PDS Health launched a business unit to integrate primary care with dentistry.
4. Roseman University of Health Sciences, in partnership with PDS Health, cut the ribbon on an integrated oral health and primary care clinic.
5. Researchers from the Indiana University School of Dentistry and the Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis created an app to help connect dentists and medical providers with patient health information.
6. Katie Lee, DDS, opened an integrated medical-dental practice in Centennial, Colo.
7. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is piloting a program that helps dentists identify patients who are diabetic or prediabetic to improve overall health.
8. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Dental Medicine graduated its inaugural class of students with integrated Community Health Certificates.
9. CMS added an oral health incentive as part of its merit-based payment system.
10. Smile Source, a network of independent dental practices across the U.S., and SimplyTest, a salivary technology company, have partnered to integrate SimplyTest’s dental salivary test to Smile Source’s practices.
