Dental Quality Improvement in an Integrated Health Care Setting: Pedal Faster

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground Quality measurement is new to dentistry but will become part of dental care within a short period of time due to governmental and public pressure and medicolegal requirements.Description This article describes challenges and opportunities for a dental department to: (1) participate in overreaching organizational quality and safety efforts with non-dental colleagues, and (2) establish a discipline-specific continuous quality improvement program. The article will propose advancing both dental and general health care through measures specific to different institutions and their unique environments, such as hospitals and community-based clinics. Steps and strategies leading to success are suggested for beginning a meaningful program, engaging and educating dental staff, and moving the quality needle forward in dentistry.

Keywords

• Quality assurance
• hospital dentistry
• dental administration