Need for a Provincial Oral Health Program for Ontario Adults & Seniors Anna Rusak Health Promoter...
-
Upload
brendan-hood -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Need for a Provincial Oral Health Program for Ontario Adults & Seniors Anna Rusak Health Promoter...
Need for a Provincial Oral Health Program for Ontario Adults & SeniorsAnna RusakHealth PromoterOral Health Department
New Canadian Report
• 6 million Canadians cannot afford to visit a dentist.
• Canada provides less publicly funded dental care than the United States & internationally, is among the lowest funders of dental care programs.
• A problem for low income and middle income
Report: Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable People Living in Canada (August 2014)
The Ontario Picture
• OHIP pays to treat infection in every part of the body except for the mouth
• Cost is the most common and serious barrier to accessing dental treatment
• 1 in 5 Ontarians do not visit a dentist due to cost
Source: August 2012, Public Health Report
Access to dental care
• Dental care programs available for most children 17 and under• Children In Need of Treatment (Health Unit)• Healthy Smiles Ontario (Health Unit)• Ontario Works (Health Unit in CKL/Hal only)• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• No provincial program for low income working adults and retired seniors
Exception: Ontario Works offers discretionary program, ODSP offers basic dental program for adults
What’s available for adults in HKPR
• Port Hope Community Health Centre – Low Cost dental clinic
• City of Kawartha Lakes Community Health Centre – Low cost dental clinic
• Haliburton Volunteer Dental Outreach (VDO) Clinic
Mouths of Haliburton Residents (before treatment at VDO)
Northumberland Oral Health Coalition (NOHC)
• A community based coalition made up of representatives from health and social service agencies, along with oral health professionals and concerned members of the public
• Working together since 2005
• Member of Ontario Oral Health Alliance (OOHA)
Ontario Oral Health Alliance (OOHA)
• Province wide group of dental coalitions, health and social service providers & members of the public
• Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Brock partnership
• Makes oral health advocacy accessible to local groups across Ontario
Postcard Campaign
Dental Related Emergency Room Visits
• 59,000 visits in Ontario in 2013
• Reason for visit: In pain & cannot afford dental treatment
• Only painkillers/antibiotics offered in ER…Not treatment
• Estimated cost per visit: $513 >$30 million spent in Ontario
• An expensive ‘Band-Aid’ solution
Sources: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (2013); St. Michael's Hospital
Local numbers• 599 visits to Campbellford (293) and Northumberland Hills
Hospital (306)
• 1187 visits to Ross Memorial (715) and Haliburton Highlands Hospital (472)
Over $916,000 spent in 2012 on Dental Related ER visits within HKPR area hospitals
Sources: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (2012); St. Michael's Hospital
Current OOHA Campaign2014 Ontario Liberal Budget Promise:
• To develop a provincial dental program for low income adults in 2025
OOHA Ask to Ontario Minister of Health:
• To make this promise a reality during Liberal’s four year term
Advocacy Strategy
• Letters requesting support from local, municipal, provincial and federal politicians
• Media releases
• Online electronic action
Thank you for your time.
Any questions?