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Policy Issues in Dental Workforce Diversity and Community-Based Dental Education:
A Report for the California Endowment
November 2004
By Shelly Gehshan
 (printer-friendly version) Full Report 44 pages, 493 KB
Introduction
This report is in response to a charge from The California Endowment — a co-sponsor of a major initiative called Pipeline, Profession and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education — to identify policy issues surrounding community-based dental education and diversity of the dental work force. The Endowment requested a policy and constituency review and an analysis of strategies for moving those policies forward. The publication includes the interview protocol (questions), a review of oral health legislation (2002-2004) as well as a review of the literature related to dental and oral health practice.
Methodology
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) gathered data in several ways. Using a national database, we conducted a review of legislation enacted in the last two years across the nation to identify trends in how other states are addressing dental work force shortages, including licensing, scope of practice and supervision for other dental professionals, loan repayment programs and other initiatives. An appendix of legislation by topic is attached. We conducted an extensive “constituency review” to gauge attitudes and political support for specific policy initiatives. To do so, we developed an interview protocol (attached) that was reviewed by The California Endowment and the Pipeline program directors. The protocol was used to conduct interviews either over the telephone or in person with 20 policymakers (elected officials, legislative staff, state agency officials, officers, board members or top executives of provider and advocacy groups), and 15 officials at state dental schools (deans and officials in charge of admissions and/or diversity or recruitment) between May and late July 2004. While those interviewed are not all equally influential, they are key players and could speak for the groups that move oral health policy forward in the state. Approximately five more interviews were scheduled and rescheduled, but were not successfully completed due to excessive demands on policymakers' time during the legislative session. Interviews lasted between 25 and 60 minutes. Responses were not recorded, but detailed notes were taken via computer during calls, or entered from notes soon afterward. Not all those interviewed answered all questions, either because of time constraints or because they had no opinions on some questions. To ensure comprehensive and candid responses, NCSL promised that the interviews would remain confidential. Therefore, no one is quoted by name or by any other identifying characteristics. Constituency groups interviewed include: The California Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the California Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the California Area Health Education Centers, the California Dental Association, the California Department of Maternal and Child Health, the California Office of Oral Health, the California Office of Rural Health, the California Office of State Health Planning and Development, the California Primary Care Association, the California Rural Health Association, the Dental Health Foundation, Family Voices, the California State Legislature (legislators and senior legislative staff), State Board of Dentistry (board member and executive staff), Medi-Cal, the U.C.S.F. Center for Health Workforce Studies and multiple officials at each of the state's dental schools.
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