Most states that collect health workforce supply data follow Minimum Data Set (MDS) guidelines on the questions they ask. However, some states collect additional data on their health workforce. This brief summarizes state health workforce data collection efforts that go beyond the MDS.
Dental hygienists are valued members of the oral health team, providing preventative and prophylactic services while also educating patients in oral health care. However, state policies concerning the scope of practice (SOP) for dental hygienists create limitations on the tasks that they are legally allowed to perform, which ultimately impacts access to needed oral health…
The 2016 edition of the Health Workforce Analysis Guide was developed by the Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center to provide an updated framework for health workforce planners, policymakers, and researchers interested in health workforce data and analysis. This webinar, the first of a 2-part series, provides an overview of the guide, with attention to the…
Developed for health workforce planners, policymakers, and researchers, this guide provides a better understanding of available health workforce data and how to use these data to conduct health workforce research. The guide covers a wide array of topics, including basic health workforce research terminology and methods and special challenges associated with conducting health workforce research….
There is a growing body of evidence documenting the relationship between physical and oral health, increasing interest in expanding access to basic oral health services, particularly for underserved populations. This webinar discusses key access barriers in oral health and describes findings from research studies conducted by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center that highlights innovative…
Learn about the issues involved in developing a state health workforce monitoring system and identify potential strategies to engage licensing bodies in collecting health workforce data.
The Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) developed a numerical scope of practice index for the dental hygiene profession called the 2001 Dental Hygiene Professional Practice Index (DHPPI) under a contract with the the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Scope of practice for dental hygienists has…
While Medicaid dental coverage for children is relatively consistent across the 50 states, dental benefits for Medicaid-enrolled adults vary significantly from state to state. As a result of the recent economic recession, many states have moved to limit Medicaid expenditures for dental care. As of 2012, 22 states, including Oklahoma, either offer no adult dental…
As the impacts of health reform are felt across the country, states are recognizing the importance of having timely, objective, and comprehensive data on their health workforce to inform decision-making. A growing number of states are developing or planning to develop health workforce monitoring systems to use for health workforce planning. In order to learn…
Dental assistants (DAs) are important members of the oral health workforce team and perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks. However, requirements for entry into the workforce, allowable tasks, and supervision vary by state. This report examines the dental assistant workforce to better understand roles, functions, and contributions to improving population oral health.
