The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47305

Mary Agnes Kendra, PhD, RN, Marlene S. Huff, PhD, RN, and Elizabeth S. Kinion, EdD, RN. College of Nursing, University of Akron, 209 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44325-3701, 330-972-7559, NurseKendra@aol.com

Public health nurses have long recognized that their clients have difficulty accessing health care, but access to dental care is virtually impossible because funding is almost non-existent. They also acknowledge that although primary preventive oral health measures are a priority, clients have to access the system first. Within this context, academic nurse-managed health clinic personnel submitted a grant to meet these needs. With the consequent funding of a three-year HRSA grant "Nurses' Oral Health Initiative for the Underserved", several community resources were explored. Two partnerships emerged: 1) the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services, and 2) the local public health department.

As projected, faculty and students needed updating in oral health assessment. A licensed dental hygienist employed by the state presented continuing education programs for faculty and students and continues to be a resource for curricular expansion focusing on relationships between oral health and medical diagnoses. Treatment for identified problems necessitated employment of a dentist. To minimize contractual obligations involved with hiring a dentist, a partnership was developed with the local public health department that had the required equipment and faciliaties.

Responding to community needs through partnerships benefits public health nurses, students, and clients. Working together to meet the goal of reducing disparities among vulnerable populations demonstrates one way to increase access to care and meet the goals of the academic health center. Students benefit through curriculum expansion resulting in increased ability to provide holistic care.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify partnerships that can be developed by public health nurses to meet health needs of underdserved populations.
• Articulate mechanisms that public health nurses can use to establish partnerships with community agencies and academia.

Keywords: Access to Care, Oral Health Needs

Related Web page: uakron.edu/nursing/center for nursing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.