Implementing Teledentistry During COVID-19

During this national emergency, teledentistry has become an emerging strategy to continue providing preventive dental care and triage for dental emergencies. During this webinar, attendees learned from a subject matter expert on effective implementation strategies for teledentistry. Then, three health centers shared their experience in teledentistry during COVID-19 including their lessons learned and specific state regulations. This webinar was 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

Speakers:

Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA – California Northstate University

Maryman Mahmood, DMD, MPH – Sun Life Family Health Center, AZ

Jonathan Hall, DMD – Neighborhood Health Center, OR

Ryan Tuscher, DDS – PCC Community Wellness Center, IL

Objectives:

1. Discuss methods to implement teledentistry during a national emergency.
2. Describe teledentistry and its uses to ensure continuity of care.
3. Learn how health centers have engaged in teledentistry in response to COVID-19.

HITEQ Webinar Takeaways:

• Current use of teledentistry varies from advice/referrals to full-service care (e.g., integrated network of providers who provide on-site care).
• Described the California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine “Virtual Dental Home” model. Team (comprised of a dental hygienist and assistant) who travel with portable equipment and collect full set of diagnostic images (e.g., radiographs, photographs, etc.). Images stored in a cloud-based EHR that is utilized by off-site dentists. Off-site dentists determine if services should be provided by allied on-site personnel (e.g., prevention and early intervention procedures, case management) or on-site dentists. Concept model of “Virtual Dental Home” available on slide 24 of the webinar slideset. Program has been successful in reaching patients, lowering costs, and implementing preventative care. Many states are currently utilizing VDH systems or VDH-funded projects.
• California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine shared the ADA's COVID-19 Coding and Billing Interim Guidance and guide they developed titled, “Using Teledentistry to Maintain Services and Contact with Patients During the time of COVID‐19 Physical Distancing”.
• Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) shared the Telehealth and Teledentistry Guide they have developed. 
• NHC uses MyChart with Zoom embedded. For video visits, patients download the MyChart app and use it to “check in”, review medical history, and consent to treatment. Not currently providing virtual preventative services, just urgent/emergency at this time. All patients requesting an in person appointment must first be triaged via a virtual visit by a dentist to determine appropriate follow-up measures. Created a format specifically for televisits in Wisdom.
• PCC Community Wellness Center primarily offers emergency (D0140) teledentistry visits and some preventive (D1330, D1310). Created and utilize a teledentistry visit template in Dentrix. Includes: consent, reason for visit, history and medical decision making, provider’s confirmation of patient’s location and emergency contact, other persons present (i.e. guardian) when indicated, duration of session, mode of telehealth, progress note, referrals as indicated, next visit or follow up.