ORAL HEALTH
Rural healthcare workers have multi-level relationships with their co-workers, patients and a wide range of community members. These modules address ethical considerations of complex interpersonal relationships, confidentiality and legal obligations.
Navigating Ethical Challenges in Rural Dentistry
Rural dentists encounter multifaceted challenges arising from limited access to care and the distinctive dynamics of community relationships. This course empowers dental professionals to navigate these complexities by making informed, ethical decisions in rural practice. Specifically, it delves into the American Dental Association guidelines tailored for rural settings, emphasizing patient trust and community welfare.
Dental Practice Management and Provider Wellbeing in Rural Settings
This module explores the unique challenges and opportunities of managing dental practices in rural settings. Students will analyze financial, operational, and staffing considerations, while discovering strategies to enhance provider wellbeing and prevent burnout. Emphasis is placed on community engagement, sustainability, and the rewarding impact of rural practice, equipping learners to thrive in underserved areas.
Dental Care for those with Special Healthcare Needs in Rural Communities
This module explores dental care for those with special healthcare needs living in rural communities. The module will review various common special healthcare conditions and adaptations to help facilitate care for patients with special healthcare needs. This module will also explore decisional capacity and various types of situations (guardianship, medical proxy, etc) that may be employed when a patient lacks decisional capacity.
Oral Health in Older Adults
This module is designed for both dental and nondental professionals who work in rural communities. Key concepts and strategies to improve the oral health of older adults who are either aging in place or living in long term care facilities are described. The focus is on the supportive role of the collaborative team and the clinical decision-making of the dental team to provide person-centered care when resources are limited.
Pain Management for the Rural Dental Patient
This module explores the management of post operative patient for the dental patient. The module will review various treatment options to manage post operative dental pain, provide traditional options to management post operative dental pain as well as alternatives for contraindications to traditional therapies.
Other modules that may be of interest in this domain.