02 June 2023

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Preparedness plan ensures dental service sustainability during a public health emergency

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Background

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged bringing risk of disease, disability and death to all Americans. As public health officials scrambled to respond, dental offices were shuttered leaving little access to dental care.

Asian Health Services (AHS) is a federally qualified health center (FQHC), located in Oakland, California. Since its founding in 1974, AHS has been a trusted leader in health care access and advocacy for Asians and Pacific Islanders. Today, AHS provides integrated medical, dental, behavioral and specialty mental health care services to more than 50,000 patients in Alameda County and the surrounding areas.

In early 2020, health care services at AHS, like other health care providers across the U.S., were significantly disrupted by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID 19, also known as SARS-CoV 2, initiated an unprecedented panic across the globe. In the U.S., public health officials scrambled to understand the virus and its scope. Legislators, researchers, health care professionals and the public at large watched and waited anxiously for direction and reassurance. Daily reports conflicted, and fear grew steadily as the virus spread.

A case report including detailed information on the AHS plan was published online in February 2023 in the Journal of the California Dental Association. 

Methods

Collaborating with medical colleagues and partnering with the local public health department, the Asian Health Services (AHS) dental team developed a preparedness plan to ensure the safe and effective ongoing delivery of oral health care services, respond to the national public health state of emergency and support local public health efforts to contain the pandemic.

AHS’s plan included several critical steps:

• Convene leadership response team to lead, monitor, advice and support.
• Consider and plan for all possible scenarios and events.
• Consider all solutions including the use of advanced technologies.
• Conduct education and training.
• Protect health center staff and patients.
• Maintain administrative and clinical services delivery.
• Explore new roles and responsibilities including expansion of scope of practice.
• Create and align a financial model that supports sustainability.
• Collect data and monitor CQI.

Results

AHS dental services remained operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to the swift and strategic response of the dental team. COVID-19 contact tracing, testing and vaccination became new services rendered by dental personnel, which are now integrated into policies, programs and services. Professional education and training were also updated to ensure sustained preparedness.

Conclusions

By having a comprehensive and coordinated preparedness plan in place, AHS was able to effectively support public health efforts and serve the oral health care needs of the community.

Practical implications

Preparedness efforts implemented by a coordinated effort between AHS’s medical and dental leadership in cooperation with local public health officials during the recent COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a future model for all health care professionals.

Huong Le & Mary E. Foley (2023) "Preparedness Plan Ensures Dental Service Sustainability During a Public Health State of Emergency," Journal of the California Dental Association, 51:1, DOI: 10.1080/19424396.2023.2173882.