Incorporating Oral Health Considerations for Medication Management in Care Transitions

Abstract

Transitions of care involve multifaceted considerations for patients, which can pose significant challenges if factors like oral health are overlooked when evaluating medication management. This article examines how oral health factors should be considered in medication management of patients who may be at risk for hospital readmission. This article also explores successes and challenges of a pharmacy consult service integrated into a dental clinic practice, and the opportunities within that setting to improve overall patient outcomes including those related to care transitions.

Promoting Whole Health in the Dental Setting: Steps Toward an Integrated Interprofessional Clinical Learning Environment Involving Pharmacy, Social Work, and Nursing

“…The position was created to provide more in-depth consultation services in the student dentist and faculty practice environments as the first formalized collaborative partnership. A detailed description of the impetus for this partnership and the oral health considerations for medication management in care transitions has been previously published [ 39 ]. This new joint faculty position grew out of (a) observations made in dental student clinics that many patients had unaddressed medication needs and discrepancies, (b) a desire to increase interprofessional interactions for dental student learners, and (c) calls from dental faculty and students for opportunities to learn about the clinical applications of pharmacology and the impact of medications on oral health.…”