Collaboration Fosters the Highest Quality of Care

 
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Oct. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers is proud to announce an affiliation with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to jointly sponsor a quality improvement project for the execution of a fluoride varnish program within Ohio’s 43 Community Health Centers. Through this partnership, one of the first of its kind in the nation, OACHC physicians will be able to earn Maintenance of Certification (MOC)® credit.

“This partnership will strengthen the incorporation of oral health services into primary care settings and encourage further collaboration,” says Dr. Ted Wymyslo, OACHC Medical Director. “Ohio’s Community Health Centers are an ideal venue for reaching Ohioans with limited access to oral health care.”

The American Board of Medical Specialties created the MOC® program to advance the standard of care. Through a program of lifelong learning and on-going self-assessment, board certified physicians demonstrate their rigorous commitment to achieving quality clinical outcomes for patients in a responsive, patient-focused setting.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital was the first children’s hospital to become a Multispecialty Portfolio Sponsor. ABMS developed the MOC® program to assist physicians to “improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of the care they provide to patients.”  Nineteen of the twenty-four ABMS Boards participate in the Multi-specialty Portfolio Program.  Only thirty-two institutions across the nation are Multi-specialty Portfolio sponsors.

This collaboration is based on the Early Childhood Oral Health Initiative (ECOH) that integrates preventative oral health practices within the primary care setting to improve young Ohioans’ oral health outcomes. The ECOH Initiative has been active in Ohio’s Community Health Centers since 2008. It enables access and integrates oral health screenings as a standard of care during well-child checks for children nine to thirty six months of age within Health Centers in Ohio.
ECOH Initiative goals:
- Establish regular dental care for children by one year of age
- Establish oral health screenings, caries risk assessments, fluoride varnish applications and to provide guidance and education to children’s caregivers regarding oral health
- Increase the number of general dentists providing care to pediatric patients
- Significantly reduce oral health issues for children under three years old

About Ohio’s Community Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers and FQHC Look-Alikes, more commonly referred to as Community Health Centers (CHCs), are non-profit health care providers that deliver affordable, high-quality and comprehensive primary care to medically underserved populations, regardless of insurance status. CHCs provide integrated whole person care, oftentimes providing onsite dental, behavioral, pharmacy, vision and other needed supplemental services under one roof. While each CHC is distinct, they share one common purpose: to provide primary health care services that are coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent and community directed.

About OACHC
The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) is a not-for-profit professional association representing Ohio's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs, or Community Health Centers). OACHC's Mission is to ensure access to high-quality affordable health care for all Ohioans through the growth and development of Ohio's Community Health Centers. OACHC represents Ohio's 43 Community Health Centers at over 200 locations, including multiple mobile units in 55 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Please visit www.ohiochc.org for more information.

Contact
Susan Lawson
***@ohiochc.org
End
Source: » Follow
Email:***@ohiochc.org Email Verified
Tags:ABMS MOC, Oral Health
Industry:Health
Location:Columbus - Ohio - United States
Subject:Partnerships
Account Email Address Verified     Account Phone Number Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
Ohio Association of Community Health Centers News
Trending
Most Viewed
Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share