Oral Health Plan Section

PURPOSE

To promote and support a comprehensive statewide oral health data collection system that identifies areas of need and tracks oral health status, with a special focus on those at highest risk for dental disease.

OVERVIEW

Many groups in Massachusetts collect oral health data ‐ school‐based programs, community health centers, universities, health departments, Head Start agencies and others. Sharing this data can strengthen oral health efforts and help improve understanding oral health status and needs. The strategies discussed here will facilitate collaboration, communication and coordination of data efforts throughout the state by:

• Expanding data and access to information through a unified effort designed to promote oral health and prevent disease.
• Increasing access to data and other oral health information to assist policymakers, providers and communities.
• Using data to increase awareness of oral health needs and improve programs and policies at the local and state level.
• Developing Internet‐based oral health information sources.

GOAL 1: Promote development of an oral health surveillance system that monitors oral health status, service delivery systems, and infrastructure needs and development, and is aligned with the CDC National Oral Health Surveillance System.

Objectives:

1. Define a comprehensive set of oral health variables that can be used to assess and track oral health needs. (By 2010)
2. Review and catalog existing oral health‐related systems that collect data and report on: a) oral health status; b) correlated data such as age, socio‐economic status, race/ethnicity and insurance status; c) workforce availability; d) status of the oral health safety net; e) status of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs); and f) relevant policies and regulations, including an analysis of financial needs and resources to support surveillance. (By 2010)
3. Report on: a) available data collection systems b) surveillance gaps; c) ways to build on existing data collection systems to develop a comprehensive surveillance system that will help state and local policy‐makers and providers improve the oral health of priority populations. (By 2011)
4. Evaluate the surveillance system, and methods of disseminating oral health data. (By 2012, reviewed annually thereafter)
   

Action Step:

• Assemble a broad‐based, expert task force representing public health officials, academic faculty, researchers and other organizations conducting oral health surveillance to promote and support a comprehensive oral health data collection system.

GOAL 2: Support the maintenance and improvement of data collection systems and improve access to Massachusetts’ oral health data sets.

Objectives:

1. Develop systems and agreements that encourage widespread access to and dissemination of oral health data sets for use by public and private organizations. (By 2011)
2. Establish a process for reviewing and updating priorities for oral health surveillance, creating strategies to prioritize needed improvements in data collection systems, and encouraging and supporting improvement of surveillance and data‐sharing systems among participating organizations. (By 2012, reviewed annually thereafter)

Action Steps:

• Affirm the commitment of partnering organizations to collaborate on collecting and disseminating oral health information.
• Promote the development and dissemination of reports on oral health, as well as up‐to‐date fact sheets in several languages.
• Promote policy change and funding to maintain and improve oral health surveillance systems.
• Facilitate sharing of oral health data and evaluation of the efficacy of data collection, analysis and reporting systems.

List of Workgroup Members

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