Medical-Dental integration (MDI) at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

This thesis examines the current status of Medical-Dental Integration (MDI) within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the United States. MDI aims to bridge the longstanding divide between medicine and dentistry through interdisciplinary collaboration and improve overall health outcomes. FQHCs are particularly well-positioned to support MDI for underserved populations, as they offer various services, including behavioral health, primary medical care, and dental care, within the same or nearby locations. An online survey was distributed to clinical leaders in medicine and dentistry at FQHCs via the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) listserv between October and December 2023. According to responses from across the United States, the most provided MDI service in both medical and dental settings was patient referral. Physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, and dental hygienists were the primary providers involved in delivering MDI services. For both medical and dental providers, the most important facilitator was the executive leadership support. The most notable barrier was the limited capacity of dental clinics to accept referrals, noted by over half of medical respondents. This study highlighted the multidimensional nature of MDI within FQHCs, emphasizing the importance of recognizing both the unique and shared attributes of medical and dental teams.