Collaboration in Oral Health Within a Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
• Educating future professionals in interprofessional principles are standard in medical and dental, as well as allied-medical and dental education. In developing the initial pilot curriculum in the Nurse Practitioner Residency (NPR) program, it was observed that a gap in the area of oral health existed. Presenters will share the development of curricular materials that resulted in resident’s increased knowledge and confidence in interacting with patients and other disciplines regarding oral health. The NPR program director consulted and collaborated with university dental hygiene faculty to create enhanced curricula in oral health and prevention.
• This presentation shares how the framework of the Quadruple Aim (improved patient experience, better outcomes, lower costs, improved value-based care, and professional satisfaction) can be addressed through additional oral health education of non-dental providers. Presenters will describe the collaborative process engaged during development of the curricula. Additionally, the presentation will share results of improvement in the residents’ knowledge, skills, and confidence as primary care providers in monitoring the oral health of their patients and how they raised the effectiveness of communications and interprofessional collaboration when addressing the dental needs of patients to achieve health equity and reduce disparities in rural, underserved and vulnerable populations.
• While the modules’ content did not directly involve interaction between disciplines during the educational component experienced by the residents per se (e.g., interprofessional education or IPE), the intent of interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) was at the forefront of the researchers’ minds when developing the educational materials. The presentation will direct audience members in strategies used to apply content to practice and prepare the NP for collaboratively meeting the immediate oral health needs of patients, increase confidence and ability to monitor oral health status and enhance communications with dental professionals and others confidently expressing oral health concerns.
