Dental Preventive Clinical Support Program

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The purpose of this Indian Health Service (IHS) grant program is to combine existing resources and infrastructure with IHS Headquarters (HQ) and IHS area resources in order to address the broad challenges and opportunities associated with IHS preventive and clinical dental programs. In accordance with the recently stated priorities of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the need to achieve “higher value” health care services, the dental support centers will address two priority goals: (1) provide support, guidance, training, and enhancement of IHS/Tribal/Urban (I/T/U) dental programs within their area; and (2) ensure that the services of the support centers and the I/T/U dental programs result in measurable improvements in the oral health status of the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients served. In order to address these two goals, a strong, collaborative working relationship with the IHS HQ Division of Oral Health (DOH) and the Area Dental Director or Area Dental Officer should be maintained. In short, support centers will empower the dental programs they serve and impact oral health outcomes through the guidance, training and support services they provide. Improvements to oral health must be documented.

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