In the November issue of Modern Hygienist, I helped lay down a framework for the importance of transdisciplniary care, and how the dental hygienist is at the forefront of making the necessary connections. One questions remains, however: How do we establish this transdisciplinary care? How do we make it work?

Networking with other healthcare providers is key. Offering continuing education or study club programs and inviting other healthcare providers to either present or attend these sessions assists these providers in appreciating and respecting the collaborative opportunities that are available across a variety of healthcare disciplines. Developing referral systems to other healthcare providers is important so that clients can be matched with appropriate practitioners in the community. Dental hygienists can serve as mentors to other healthcare providers educating them to the connections between oral health and systemic health. Likewise, dental hygienists can tutor under a nurse practitioner, physician, or other allied health provider to enhance dental hygiene diagnostic skills and treatment interventions. Models of transdisciplinary care have recently been reported in the literature that supports collaborating with and learning from other healthcare practitioners.These models can assist dental hygienists with converting their practice protocols from strictly an oral health focus to that of a total health perspective.

How do we establish this transdisciplinary care? Networking with other healthcare providers is key. Offering continuing education or study club programs and inviting other healthcare providers to either present or attend these sessions assists these providers in appreciating and respecting the collaborative opportunities that are available across a variety of healthcare disciplines. Developing referral systems to other healthcare providers is important so that clients can be matched with appropriate practitioners in the community. Dental hygienists can serve as mentors to other healthcare providers educating them to the connections between oral health and systemic health. Likewise, dental hygienists can tutor under a nurse practitioner, physician, or other allied health provider to enhance dental hygiene diagnostic skills and treatment interventions. Models of transdisciplinary care have recently been reported in the literature that supports collaborating with and learning from other healthcare practitioners.30-32 These models can assist dental hygienists with converting their practice protocols from strictly an oral health focus to that of a total health perspective.

As dental hygienists become more involved in partnering with other healthcare practitioners to provide “total health” care, career enhancement may occur. Some dental hygienists are working with obstetric/gynecology specialists to help prevent preterm low-birthweight babies. Others may choose to work in wellness centers providing oral health education as part of comprehensive care. Broadening the focus to include total health evaluation in oral health practices may be a practice protocol that truly changes the quality of oral health and general health in our country.

Related Article: Emerging Science, Changing Roles by JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD