Dental H.O.M.E. coach in action
SureSight Vision Screener
Home-bound visit
Geriatric dentistry team on the road
Vision screening
Vision Screening Test
Outreach and Engagement Awards
Ohio State University Nominated Programs
In 2008, Ohio State had a pool of 34 outstanding programs from which to choose its nominees for the regional Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award and the C. Peter Magrath University/Community Engagement Award. The scope and quality of these programs represent the broad spectrum of Ohio State’s partnerships with communities and industry.
Health, Environment, and Safety
The OSU Dental H.O.M.E. Coach
Ohio State Partner: College of Dentistry, Office of Community Education
Community Partners: Columbus City Schools, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus Health Department
Links: OHIO Project website; Dental HOME Coach Grant; This Week Newspapers article
A landmark report from the U.S. Surgeon General identified oral health disparities as an urgent and high-priority problem. In the late 1990s, Ohio’s citizens expressed to state leadership that access to dental care was their greatest unmet health need. State-sponsored surveys had shown repeatedly that certain populations—the poor, people with disabilities, and minorities—experienced higher-than-average rates of dental disease and could not access care. Today, access to dental care remains the number one unmet health need in the state of Ohio, particularly for low-income adults and children, according to Oral Health and Access to Dental Care for Ohioans, a 2007 report by the Ohio Department of Health. Dental caries, the most common chronic disease in America, can cause significant morbidity such as pain, altered development, and hospitalization. Caries in primary teeth increases the risk of developing caries in secondary teeth. When children experience pain from dentally related causes, their ability to speak, eat, sleep, and concentrate may be compromised, thereby affecting the socialization of that child. Preventable dental disease and oral infections are costly and have been associated with poor performance in school and absenteeism. Most oral diseases are easily and inexpensively prevented with routine care. The Ohio State College of Dentistry is addressing the access to dental care problem for low-income children. In 2004, the College of Dentistry, Columbus City Schools, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the Columbus Health Department partnered to support the construction and operation of a three-chair mobile dental unit, known as The Dental H.O.M.E. (Health Outreach Mobile Experience) Coach. Full-service, high-quality dental care is provided on the coach to school-age children at their respective schools by senior dental students. The seniors are supervised by Nationwide Children’s Hospital pediatric dental professionals. This care has made a difference in the quality of life for numerous children in the Columbus City Schools. Upon surveying approximately 100 school nurses, there are reports of a decrease in absenteeism due to oral pain and infection. The Coach also offers the district a valuable resource for treating children with dental emergencies. During its first 10 months of operation, the Coach provided treatment to over 2,000 children in the district. The dentistry graduating class of 2008 provided more than 8,595 procedures to 2,383 children in Franklin County. Uncompensated care was provided to 318 patients. An estimated $282,600 in dental services was provided to families in the community when college fees are applied. The college fees are significantly less than private sector fees. The Dental H.O.M.E. Coach project is a win-win situation for the Ohio State College of Dentistry and the community. The College of Dentistry is committed to addressing the needs of the public it serves while training excellent, socially aware dental practitioners. As a result of this service-learning experience on the Coach, it is hoped that students will consider community dentistry as a career path and become sensitive to the plight of populations underserved by their profession. Most of our students will be returning to Ohio communities with a firm understanding of community engagement.
Impact Statements
- Goal: To address the number one unmet health need of low-income children in Franklin County, which is access to dental care. Findings: During its first 10 months of operation, the Coach provided treatment to over 2,000 children in the District. The graduating class of 2008 provided more than 8,595 procedures to 2,383 children in Franklin County. Uncompensated care was provided to 318 patients. An estimated $282,600 in dental services was provided to families in the community when college fees are applied. The College fees are significantly less than private sector fees. These findings will be shared with the academic dental community in presentation and written form. This partnership has the potential to be a successful model for other metropolitan and urban communities.
- Goal: To address the number one unmet health need of low-income children in Franklin County. which is access to dental care. Findings: Upon surveying approximately 100 school nurses, there are reports of a decrease in absenteeism due to oral pain and infection. The Coach also offers the district a valuable resource for treating children with dental emergencies. These findings will be shared with the academic dental community in presentation and written form. This partnership has the potential to be a successful model for other metropolitan and urban communities.
- Goal: To address the oral health needs of the community while training excellent, socially aware dental practitioners. Findings: Upon exit surveys of the senior dental students, the percentage of responses indicating continued community involvement and service has remained at 90% or higher for the last three years. These findings will be shared with the academic dental community in presentation and written form. This partnership has the potential to be a successful model for other metropolitan and urban communities.
Home-Bound and Nursing Home Care Service
Ohio State Partner: College of Optometry Clinic
Community Partners: Visiting Physicians, Doctors on Call, Franklin County Office on Aging
Link: website
For over 20 years, Ohio State College of Optometry faculty and students have provided home-bound and nursing home eye and vision care to nonambulatory patients in central Ohio who are unable to travel to one of our on-campus teaching clinics. Through this unique outreach and engagement educational activity, patients who need eye and vision care but would not otherwise receive it benefit greatly from a thorough medical history, visual acuity testing and refraction, ocular health examinations for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, management of eye diseases, and high-quality prescription eyewear. Using portable vision testing equipment transported in a donated “BuckEYE” van, third and fourth-year optometry students learn how to use bedside examination techniques for predominately elderly and very challenging patients with chronic and debilitating systemic diseases that may have ocular complications. Examples of these systemic diseases include heart attack (MI), stroke (CVA), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many others. In addition to improving the patients’ quality of vision and life, this program works with visiting physicians, nurses, social workers, government agencies, and family members to provide health education to prevent blindness and to enhancement visual performance for at-risk patients who frequently live in less-than-optimal environments. Since the geographic service area for this much-needed program is limited to patients who reside in Franklin County, the college also maintains a database of Ohio State optometry alumni who offer this unique service in their own communities throughout the state; and when home-bound or nursing home eye and vision care is requested by patients or agencies outside of Franklin County, referrals are made to these community optometrists. One faculty member (Professor of Clinical Optometry Dr. Robert D. Newcomb) authored a paper on this program in a national optometric publication (“This doctor makes house calls,” Optometric Management, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp 89-90); and he reports receiving several e-mail and phone contacts from optometrists in Ohio and in other states who have requested additional information on how to begin a similar outreach program in their communities. The Ohio State College of Optometry’s Home-Bound and Nursing Home Care Service is an important part of a comprehensive clinical curriculum that prepares Ohio State optometry graduates for excellence in patient care wherever they may choose to practice. While clinical faculty members are teaching and upper-level students are learning, they are also able to help over 200 needy patients in central Ohio through this unique program in AY 2007-2008. Last year, these 200+ central Ohio citizens were truly the direct beneficiaries of Ohio State’s historic roots as a land-grant institution of higher education. This outstanding outreach and engagement program has benefited hundreds of our Ohio State College of Optometry students as well as over 4100 central Ohio citizens over the past 20 years.
Impact Statements
- This program has demonstrated the great need for eye and vision care services among home-bound and nursing home patients in our community. Our optometry students, who will be future leaders in their communities, have learned the art and science of providing primary eye care services in non-traditional environments; and have also increased their cultural sensitivity through this program by caring for a less-fortunate and highly vulnerable segment of our population.
- Patients examined through this unique program not only have their uncorrected refractive errors corrected, but have also had a potential permanent loss of vision prevented when eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy were detected during their home-bound or nursing home eye examinations. This service has therefore increased the quality of their lives and has saved money by avoiding expensive rehabilitation and custodial care.
- Optometry, as a primary health care profession, has worked well with other health disciplines (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, etc) to coordinate services for patients in our community who are not ambulatory. This working relationship promotes better health outcomes by sharing relevant information and promoting a team approach to the care of patients with multiple systemic diseases.
Appalachian Geriatric Dentistry Program
Ohio State Partner: Community Outreach and Engagement Office, College of Dentistry
Community Partner: Area Agency on Aging #7, Inc.
Links: website
This program was launched in 2001 in cooperation with the Area Agency on Aging #7, Inc., to provide rural elderly patients residing in 10 Appalachian counties in southeastern Ohio with comprehensive dental care. This weekly program visits community senior centers in each of the 10 participating Appalachian counties in the southeastern Ohio region (Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton). The population of these counties totals over 500,000 people, and residents age 65 and above constitute over 13% of the population. Upon arrival, four dental units are set up and registered patients are physically evaluated for dental treatment. Comprehensive dental care is delivered under supervision of an accompanying geriatric dentistry faculty. Over 400 patients are seen annually in this nontraditional, rural setting. This program has been effective in serving over 3,200 patients in 10 Ohio counties over 8 years. An estimated $233,334 in dental services to rural elderly patients has been rendered during the length of this program. The result of a patient satisfaction survey indicates that 97% of patients seen were satisfied with their care. Moreover, more students are prepared to practice geriatric dentistry when they graduate as opposed to when geriatric dentistry was an elective course as late as 2001. Now, all 100 students of each graduating class are required to take the coursework and since the program became mandatory, we have successfully trained 800 students in geriatric oral heath care. Over the past 8 years since the program’s inception, at least 23 graduates have selected the Appalachian region of southeastern Ohio to practice. In addition the program was successful in recruiting 13 students from this region.
Impact Statements
- Goals and Objective of the Appalachian Geriatric Dental Program: To provide the dental students with a broad diversified experience in Geriatric Dentistry in a nontraditional setting, in rural areas. Findings, accomplishments: The College of Dentistry offers one of the University’s leading outreach programs, which takes care of the dental needs of the community with emphasis on serving the underserved. Students have the opportunity to increase their skills while providing a valuable service. Over 400 patients are seen annually in a nontraditional, rural setting resulting in the treatment of over 3,200 since the program became mandatory in the school curriculum. Implication of the program: More students are prepared to practice geriatric dentistry when they graduate as opposed to before when geriatric dentistry was an elective. Now, all 100 students of each graduating class are required to take the coursework and since the program became mandatory, we have successfully trained 800 students in geriatric oral heath care. How the findings will be used: This program is now being adopted by the ADA and recommended for replication in other rural parts of the country.
- Goals and Objective of the Appalachian Geriatric Dental Program: To provide access to dental care to an underserved population who otherwise may not be able to access this care. Findings, accomplishments: Over 400 patients are provided with comprehensive dental care annually. This program was effective in reaching out to over 3,200 patients in 10 Ohio counties. An estimated $233,334 in dental services to rural elderly patients has been rendered during the length of this program. Over the past 8 years since the program’s inception, at least 23 graduates have selected the Appalachian region of south eastern Ohio to practice. In addition the program was successful in recruiting 13 students from this region. Implication of the program: The positive assessment of patients’ satisfaction of care received (97%) resulted in The Appalachia Geriatric Dentistry Program being the recipient of the 2006 Geriatric Oral Health Care Award. This award is presented each year by the American Dental Association’s Council on Access, Prevention, and Inter-professional Relation, the Pfizer Consumer Health Care Group and ADA Foundation. It should be noted that the increase in oral health care provided by the service itself, and the number of dental school graduates practicing in Appalachia, have significantly increased oral health in the area. How the findings will be used: This program is now being adopted by the ADA and recommended for replication in other rural parts of the country.
- Goals and Objective of the Appalachian Geriatric Dental Program: To familiarize students with the barriers to dental care access in rural areas such as finances, lack of transportation, shortage and mal-distribution of dentists and ageism. Findings, accomplishments: Now that the geriatrics curriculum is required coursework and not an elective, all 100 students of each graduating class are exposed to the geriatric oral health care. Through their participation in the Appalachian Geriatric Dental Program, all students are taught, and experience first hand, the barriers that the rural elderly face in gaining access to oral health care. To date 800 dental students have participated in the program since is became a required course. Implication of the program: We overcome the barriers to dental care access in rural areas such as finances, lack of transportation, shortage and mal-distribution of dentists and ageism. We have provided comprehensive dental care to 400 patients annually; and over the eight years since the program has been mandatory for dental students, we have services 3,200 patients. We have provided the opportunity for graduates to practice in this unique environment working with medically complex elderly patients, while becoming sensitized to the issues of associated with elderly oral health care. We are able to provide a model that has been very successful to the point that the American Dental Association has awarded the program the 2006 Geriatric Oral Health Care Award, recognized as the best rural dental outreach program in the nation. How the findings will be used: This program is now being adopted by the ADA and recommended for replication in other rural parts of the country.
Universal Design Project
Ohio State Partners: Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Medical Professions, College of Medicine; Textiles and Clothing, College of Education and Human Ecology; OSU Extension
Community Partners: Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores, Dave Fox Remodeling
Links: project website
In 2001, faculty and staff from The Ohio State University met with Extension educators and aging and housing experts from state and local agencies to develop a Universal Design Project for Ohio. A goal of these meetings was to educate the public, beyond older adults and the disabled, about Universal Design and how it works for people of all ages and abilities. The group wanted to sell the concept to the public as an easy and attractive home features. An interdisciplinary class was developed for interior design and occupational and physical therapy students, which has been taught for the past 6 years. A community education program was developed for a wide variety of settings and groups. This included a CD-ROM and a notebook of materials and handouts for the public. They were also posted on the Internet. A core group of Extension educators were trained and a train-the-trainer packet was produced. As a result, over 100 workshops have been offered in 10 counties in community and senior centers, public libraries, churches, and schools. Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores were used for a number of workshops. The stores had displays to show universally designed products such as faucets, lever door handles, night lights, grab bars, and “D” shaped cabinet handles and to help consumers find products on the shelves. These efforts were successful in reaching over 600 consumers, but evaluations showed that it was still difficult for consumers to visualize how they could implement Universal Design features in their own homes. In 2005, Lowe’s approached the faculty at Ohio State with a proposal to build a universally designed kitchen on university property that could be used for a cover story in their in-store magazine. The faculty worked with Lowe’s designers to build a model kitchen at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. The following year, Lowe’s built a model bathroom there with the help of a local company, Dave Fox Remodeling, which was again featured in the magazine. Since that time, the exhibit has been open to the public and seen by over 2,000 people at the Farm Science Review. It has also been the site of spring workshops for the public. In 2007, Lowe’s provided funding to The Ohio State University for the production of a 12-minute video on Universal Design featuring the model kitchen and bathrooms. Dave Fox Remodeling assisted with the production of the video, which was released in 2008. It has now been distributed to over 100 members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and policymakers and interested professionals across the country. Recently as a result of this outreach, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency has begun requiring all of the new housing it supports to have an accessible entrance and first floor bathroom. Information is also available in magazine and journal articles.
Impact Statements
- Project Goal: to educate the general public about concept of Universal Design and how it can make their lives easier through improving their housing. Accomplishments: Through the exhibits, website, and print media, many people have been reached. For example, Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine reaches 12 million people. In addition, over 2,000 have visited the kitchen and bathroom display. Workshops have reached over 600 people in central Ohio. The recently released video will also expand the audience to include those at local home and garden shows. Implications: This project has reached a wide public and introduced the concept of Universal Design to them. This will be very useful as aging baby boomers seek new housing or plan to remodel existing home to age in place.
- Project Goal: To educate home builders and remodelers about Universal Design. Accomplishments: This project has reached both home builders and remodelers who have attended workshops and visited the model kitchen and bathroom site. With the recent distribution of the video to NARI chapters, many more professionals in the field will be informed and educated. Implications: With the support of NARI, home builders and remodelers across the country are becoming interested in promoting Universal Design as an affordable and attractive addition to the homes they build or remodel. This will bring the concept to the forefront of the construction industry.
- Project Goal: To increase the number of housing units with Universal Design features. Accomplishments: To date, builders in the senior housing industry in Ohio have begun to incorporate these features in their projects. One example is the new over-55 housing project in Eaton, Ohio. Likewise, Dave Fox Remodeling in Columbus now uses these features in their remodeling projects. Recently as a result of this outreach and other efforts, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency has begun requiring all of the new housing it supports to have an accessible entrance and first floor bathroom. This means that over the next 5 years, hundreds of new units will have these features. Implications: With public and private support and information from the Universal Design Project, Universal Design will be incorporated into a wide variety of housing stock in Ohio. This means that people of all ages and abilities will have housing that meets their needs and future residents will not need to modify these homes in order to age in place or manage after a disability.
The University/Community Model Preschool Vision Screening Program: A Collaboration of University and Community Partners
Ohio State Partners: OSU Extension, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; College of Optometry, College of Education and Human Ecology
Community Partners: Columbus Foundation, 4-H Youth Development, high school Family and Consumer Sciences programs
Links: Vision in Preschoolers website
Healthy vision is an important part of a child’s success in school. It is estimated that approximately 20% of preschool-age children between 3 and 5 years of age have an eye or vision condition that, if left uncorrected, can result in reduced vision. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware that their child has a vision problem. Currently, 15 states require that preschool-age children have their vision screened before they start school. Yet, fewer than 22% of preschool-aged children are currently screened for vision disorders. The University/Community Model Program was designed to use results from the award-winning science of the Vision In Preschoolers (VIP) Study, sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI/NIH/DHHS) with the study center at Ohio State, to pilot and refine models for effective community-based preschool vision screening programs. In partnership with OSU Extension’s Ohio’s 4-H Youth Development and the College of Education and Human Ecology’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Program, cutting-edge science from this national multicenter clinical research study is being translated and piloted in three counties to directly benefit Ohio children. Vision disorders are the leading handicapping conditions among preschool-age children in the United States. The prevalent vision disorders, lazy eye (amblyopia), eye misalignment (strabismus), and eye focusing disorders (refractive error such as astigmatism and farsightedness), pose a significant public health threat to 17-20% of preschool-age children. For example, amblyopia is responsible for more vision loss among people age 45 years and younger than all other eye disease and trauma combined—more than 6 million people. When vision disorders are left undetected, children are at risk for developing serious difficulties including permanent vision loss and blindness, which have a lifelong negative impact on academic, social, and physical aspects of life in addition to affecting visual health. Further, vision loss associated with these disorders is entirely preventable. In partnership with the Columbus Foundation, the College of Optometry is collaborating with the 4-H Youth Development and FCS programs through extension agents in Summit, Shelby, and Henry counties to train high school 4-H youth to administer the best preschool vision screening tests (Crowded Single Lea Symbols Vision Screening Test at 5 Feet, Retinomax Autorefractor, and SureSight Vision Screener) and to implement community-based screening programs. To establish a self-sustaining community-based program, at the end of the project one instrument will stay in each county. In this model program, all 20 4-H youth met certification requirements and implemented community-based programs. Through access to the model, 230 preschoolers were screened and 35 were referred to eye doctors for exams. With the local success of the model in Summit, Shelby, and Henry counties, county agents have enthusiastically requested full model development with expansion to more Ohio counties and inclusion of a train-the-trainer section. Extension programs view the model as a service-learning project ideal for 4-H youth. The more than 300,000 members of the 4-H program offer the potential for implementation in all 88 counties throughout the state of Ohio.
Impact Statements
- The goal of the University/Community Model Preschool Vision Screening Program is to establish self-sustaining community-based vision screening programs throughout the state of Ohio. All 20 4-H youth met certification requirements and implemented community-based programs. To date, these high school students have screened 230 preschoolers, of whom 35 were referred to eye doctors for exams. The local success of the model in Summit, Shelby, and Henry counties have encouraged the three county agents to enthusiastically request full model development with expansion to more Ohio counties and inclusion of a train-the-trainer section. Extension programs view the model as a service-learning project ideal for 4-H youth. The more than 300,000 members of the 4-H program offer the potential for implementation in all 88 counties throughout the State of Ohio.
- The University/Community Model Program was designed to increase the number of preschool-age children who have their vision screened by trained 4-H Youth in Shelby, Henry, and Summit counties in Ohio. Through this program, the three counties have self-sustaining community-based screening programs in place, complete with screening instruments.
2009 O&E Awards: Health, Environment, and Safety page 2
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