UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Miami, FL
Project Title: Miami Dental Access Program (MDAP)
Organizational Setting:
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology and Public Health in collaboration with the Division of Oral Surgery and General Dentistry and the Jackson Health system with primary health care clinics.
Goals/Objectives:
The goal of MDAP is to increase access to oral health care services for HIV-infected patients. The project objectives are to develop, implement and evaluate a new and innovative mobile dental program for medically underserved persons living with HIV.
Geographic Setting:
Urban; mobile van.
Location:
Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Target Population:
Low-income adults living with HIV/AIDS who have not received dental services in the past 6 out of 12 months and are currently receiving HIV primary care.
Program Intervention/Services:
MDAP will establish a mobile dental unit linked with primary care clinics that do not offer on-site dental care. The mobile unit will provide prevention, early intervention and linkage to comprehensive oral health care services. Referrals for comprehensive services will be made to Jackson Medical Center and other Ryan White funded dental clinics. Patients will be seen every six months for cleanings/follow-up to ensure they are linked to comprehensive oral health care. MDAP will coordinate oral health care services with HIV primary care appointments so patients can maximize visits. Clinic personnel will escort patients from the primary care clinic to the mobile unit.
Program Staff:
A dentist will provide preventive oral health care; a dental assistant will provide education and counseling on oral hygiene and self-care techniques; the program coordinator will link with medical staff, accompany patients to the mobile unit from the medical clinic, conduct intake and evaluation forms and work with the dental assistant on patient follow-up.
Partners & Linkages to Medical care:
The mobile unit will initially link with 3 primary care clinics affiliated with the Jackson Health system in Miami-Dade county that do not have on-site dental services. MDAP represents collaboration among University of Miami’s Departments of Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Surgery–Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and General Dentistry, Department of Medicine–Division of Infectious Diseases and the Jackson Health Care System/Public Health Trust.
Consumer Involvement:
A community advisory board (CAB) meets quarterly to plan studies that are culturally appropriate and meet the needs of the community as well as to review, interpret and discuss ways to disseminate study findings.
Contact Information
Name & Title:
Dr. Lisa R. Metsch, Principal Investigator
Mailing Address:
1120 NW 14 Street, Room 917
Miami, Fl 33136
Email: [email protected]
Telephone:
305-243-3471
Fax:
305-243-6436