Overview
Many children at or near the poverty threshold do not receive preventive dental care. SmileConnect's dental referral technology addresses this problem by giving providers a secure platform to help administer, coordinate, and track oral health care for low-income children in their communities.
Our Approach
SmileConnect's referral technology provides information to general practitioners on how to identify tooth decay, apply fluoride varnish, and educate young patients about oral health. It also makes it easy for doctors, social workers, and other care professionals to refer children in need of oral care to nearby dentists who accept Medicaid, and to track the care they receive. In addition, our dental referral technology’s FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) gateway ensures information within the system is securely shared across oral health care teams for better overall coordination.
Results
Children in Michigan who are referred to a dentist through SmileConnect's dental referral technology platform are 35 percent more likely to visit a dentist and get preventive oral care than children who did not receive an electronic referral. Doctors also appreciate that when they use the dental referral technology, they are not only expanding access to oral health care in their communities, but are part of a collaborative care team that includes dentists.
Contact Us
Carley Kirk - MS, RDH
Deputy Director, Healthy Women and Children
Areas of Expertise- Clinical Quality Improvement
- Medical Education
- Children's Oral Health
Carley leads Altarum's SmileConnect® program, an integrated care model that increases access of low-income children to oral health care through continuing medical education and technology that facilitates referrals and coordinates community dental health resources. Carley holds a master’s degree in health education and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan.
Allyson Rogers - MA
SmileConnect Specialist
Areas of Expertise- Public health communication
- Program evaluation
- Oral health
Allyson leads expansion efforts for SmileConnect, working with states and organizations to determine scalability, feasibility, and pricing. She has been part of the program (formerly known as the Michigan Caries Prevention Program) since its launch in 2014 and has provided expertise in evaluation, marketing, and project management. Allyson holds a master’s degree in Health and Risk Communication.