Journal article
Emergency department revisits for nontraumatic dental conditions in Massachusetts
The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Vol.150(8), pp.656-663
08/01/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.03.013
PMID: 31235066
Abstract
Background. Inadequate access to oral health care and palliative care provided in the emergency department (ED) creates a pattern of repeat nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) ED visits. The authors examined NTDC ED revisits and assessed the determinants associated with these visits in Massachusetts.
Methods. The authors examined NTDC ED revisits in Massachusetts during 2013 using the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database. The authors report patient characteristics of those who made a single NTDC ED visit and of those who made NTDC ED revisits within 30 days of the index NTDC ED visit. The authors used a multilevel logistic regression model to examine the determinants associated with NTDC ED repeat visits.
Results. In 2013, 21.5% of NTDC ED visits were revisits. Men from 26 through 35 years of age who were enrolled in Medicaid and who did not make an outpatient dental office visit within 30 days of the index NTDC ED visit had increased odds of repeat visits.
Conclusions. The sizable proportion of NTDC ED repeat visits indicates that certain patients in Massachusetts experience consistent and systematic barriers in accessing appropriate and timely oral health care.
Practical Implications. Prioritizing young adults and Medicaid enrollees for ED diversion programs and setting up a formal referral process via connecting patients to dental offices and community health centers after an NTDC ED visit may reduce NTDC ED revisits and provide appropriate oral health care to these patients.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Emergency department revisits for nontraumatic dental conditions in Massachusetts
- Creators
- Ashwini Ranade - Northeastern Univ, Bouve Coll Hlth Sci, Boston, MA 02115 USAGary J. Young - Northeastern UniversityRaul Garcia - Boston UniversityJohn Griffith - Northeastern Univ, Bouve Coll Hlth Sci, Boston, MA 02115 USAAstha Singhal - Boston UniversityJean McGuire - Northeastern Univ, Bouve Coll Hlth Sci, Boston, MA 02115 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), Vol.150(8), pp.656-663
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.03.013
- PMID
- 31235066
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Dent Assoc
- ISSN
- 0002-8177
- eISSN
- 1943-4723
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- internal grant (Tier-1) at Northeastern University
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984283859902771
Metrics
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