Department of Health and Human Services Where do we go from here? RADM Dushanka V. Kleinman Assistant Surgeon General Chief Dental Officer, United States Public Health Service

Department of Health and Human Services Basic Assumptions Other health professions, education and social service communities are key to oral health The private and public sectors of dentistry comprise the nation’s dental public health response. Dentistry is an essential component of public health and health care services.

Department of Health and Human Services How do we get involved from here? 1. Join existing and emerging systems and programs 2. Partake in planning 3. Identify, and prepare for, scope of roles and responsibilities 4. Remove barriers 5. Accelerate knowledge transfer 6. Partner 7. Evaluate

Department of Health and Human Services Join existing and emerging systems and programs Are you familiar with local plans in your area? What are your state plans? Bring together national organizations and federal agencies that are supporting your efforts: - to facilitate leveraging - to ensure continued support

Department of Health and Human Services Align with existing movements: Public health preparedness requires us to: Strengthen public health infrastructure for surveillance and outbreak response epi expertise lab capability computer connectivity Support public health/health care community partnerships Renew commitment to increase global disease surveillance and public health Ensure ability to recognize and report symptoms Support research M.A.Hamburg Nuclear Threat Initiative Science 2002:295;1425

Department of Health and Human Services Partake in Planning Plan at the local, state, national and global levels Bring a range of skills to planning: health care, health education, administration and community service Stimulate new roles for dentistry Contribute to interdisciplinary work

Department of Health and Human Services Planning will require linking across disciplines and sectors Dental Medical Nursing Pharmacy Engineering Social work Dietician Health Dietician Education Social Cultural Environmental

Department of Health and Human Services Using Essential Public Health Functions to Take Next Steps “Public Health in America,” Public Heath Functions Steering Committee, 1994.(Adapted) RESEARCH MonitorHealth Diagnose & Investigate Inform,Educate,Empower MobilizeCommunityPartnerships DevelopPolicies Evaluate AssureCompetentWorkforce POLICY DEVELOPMENT (Treatment Plan) ASSESSMENT (Examination & Diagnosis) ASSURANCE (Treatment & Follow-up) Link to / Provide Care Enforce Laws

Department of Health and Human Services Identify roles and responsibilities For the profession For integrating within systems and programs For other partners

Department of Health and Human Services Remove Barriers Change the perception of dentistry and its potential role (within profession and beyond) Enhance profession’s response by extending information technology capacity Address limitations related to legislation, liability

Department of Health and Human Services Accelerate knowledge transfer Educate, educate, educate ourselves our patients our communities Build risk communication skills Link with existing education and training efforts Streamline information sources Contribute to overall health literacy

Department of Health and Human Services Partner Maximize networking and communication Establish a common platform across professions Take advantage of, and learn from, different disciplines, locations and roles Maintain flexibility Integrate, integrate, integrate Be“at the table”. This requires a “push-pull” approach among partners

Department of Health and Human Services Evaluate How will our efforts be directed, monitored, redesigned? What are our outcome measures? How will the effectiveness, accessibility and quality of our efforts be evaluated?

Department of Health and Human Services Call for Products Materials for presentations Courses for students and practitioners Certification of dental public health teams “Public health guide” for dental offices Start-up Kit for individuals/for organizations: who to contact, how to get started Approaches for rural geographic sites Information networks Research Recording, and record keeping

Department of Health and Human Services Call for Plan of Action Where are we now? Where do we need to be? How do we get there?

Department of Health and Human Services As a profession, it’s all about health and our future. (The Future of the Public’s Health in the 21 st Century (IOM, 2003)) Adopt a population health approach Strengthen public health infrastructure Build new generation of intersectoral partnerships Develop systems of accountability Make evidence the foundation of decision making Enhance and facilitate communication

Department of Health and Human Services “Some say that knowledge is superior to action. Others say that action is superior to knowledge. Both are wrong. Unless knowledge is tied to action, it is not deserving the recompense.” -al-Huhwari, 11 th century Sufi saint