Key Points
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The model described in this article is becoming recognised and widely used in salaried dental services in UK as a useful methodology for describing the complexity of special care patients.
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NHS commissioners are interested in using the model to assist in commissioning these services.
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The model has potential for use in research in special care dentistry.
Abstract
Routine dental care provided in special care dentistry is complicated by patient specific factors which increase the time taken and costs of treatment. The BDA have developed and conducted a field trial of a case mix tool to measure this complexity. For each episode of care the case mix tool assesses the following on a four point scale: 'ability to communicate', 'ability to cooperate', 'medical status', 'oral risk factors', 'access to oral care' and 'legal and ethical barriers to care'. The tool is reported to be easy to use and captures sufficient detail to discriminate between types of service and special care dentistry provided. It offers potential as a simple to use and clinically relevant source of performance management and commissioning data. This paper describes the model, demonstrates how it is currently being used, and considers future developments in its use.
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References
Fiske J, Dougall A . Access to special care dentistry, part 1. Access. Br Dent J 2008; 204: 605–616.
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Hally J, Freeman R . A field trial conducted in the Salaried Dental Services NHS Highland. Personal communication.
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Bateman, P., Arnold, C., Brown, R. et al. BDA special care case mix model. Br Dent J 208, 291–296 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.294
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.294
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