Breaking Down Healthcare Silos for an Improved Patient Experience

Many patients don’t realize that their dental office is often the first line of defense for detecting serious health conditions. From oral cancer screenings to identifying signs of systemic diseases, dentists play a crucial role in overall healthcare. This understanding is at the heart of value-based care, which seeks to break down the traditional silos between medical, dental, and behavioral health services, ultimately improving the patient experience.

The challenge of change

Of course, transitioning to value-based care isn’t without its challenges. Healthcare providers often express concerns about:

• Being held responsible for patient behaviors outside the clinic
• Limited IT infrastructure for coordinating with other providers
• The complexity of new payment models
• The need for significant system-level changes

However, the current fragmented system isn’t serving patients effectively. As Danielle Apostolon of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health pointed out in a recent podcast episode, with 4 out of 10 Americans managing multiple chronic conditions, there’s a clear need for better coordination between healthcare providers to improve the patient experience and outcomes.

The good news is that implementing value-based care doesn’t have to happen overnight. Providers can start small by:

• Using basic tools like Excel to track patient outcomes
• Evaluating cases individually with their team
• Implementing simple workflow improvements
• Asking patients about their care preferences and experiences

The future is integrated

While the transition to value-based care has been gradual, momentum is building as more providers see positive results. Patients are experiencing better outcomes, and providers are finding more satisfaction in delivering comprehensive care that truly improves lives.

For those interested in learning more about value-based care, numerous resources are available, from white papers to online courses through institutions like the University of Texas Dell Medical School. The key is taking that first step toward understanding how this approach could benefit both providers and patients.

Remember: we’re all patients in the end. The improvements we make to the healthcare system benefit everyone, making the transition to value-based care not just a professional obligation, but a personal investment in better health outcomes and an enhanced patient experience for all.

How Intiveo support dental practices

We are proud to offer a number of resources to dental and oral surgery practices across Canada and the United States. Our resource library includes guides, template packages, self-assessments and more. Or, tune into our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint, on Apple or Spotify.

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