An innovative dental program for patients with autism and modernized electronic medical records systems for rural communities are among the latest advances in Maine’s medical industry.
They are the focus of separate programs announced this week.
Dental care
The MaineHealth Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders and the University of New England College of Dental Medicine are implementing an oral care program that helps individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders access dental care.
The program also gives dental students hands-on experience providing inclusive care.
Following a 13-week pilot that finished in May, the program, called Bright Smiles and Healthy Futures, uses individualized desensitization sessions in a specialized dental suite designed to mirror a clinical environment. Through gradual, step-by-step exposure, patients build tolerance for dental procedures, improving their ability to access routine and preventive care.
The program also provides caregivers with coaching, practical strategies and individualized dental support plans.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience disproportionately high rates of dental disease, as sensory sensitivities, communication challenges and limited access to trained providers often make both daily oral hygiene and routine dental visits more difficult, according to a news release.
In the pilot, participating patients increased their ability to tolerate dental visits by an average of 67%.
“Several participants went on to successfully complete traditional dental appointments following the pilot program, marking an important milestone and demonstrating outcomes that are possible through individualized, patient-centered care,” said Cathleen Small, director of outpatient behavioral services at MaineHealth Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence, who has led the program since its launch.
The partnership with the University of New England College of Dental Medicine helps expand access while preparing future dental professionals, she said.
The University of New England College of Dental Medicine is Maine and northern New England’s only dental school.
As the program transitions to a permanent initiative, MaineHealth Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence said it plans to explore opportunities to serve more patients across Maine and beyond.
Electronic records
Better electronic medical record systems in rural communities are the focus of $30 million in funding awarded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services through Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
The goal is to help eligible hospitals, primary care practices, health centers, behavioral health providers and opioid treatment programs modernize and better connect electronic medical record systems, expand the use of innovative technologies and improve care delivery and health outcomes.
“Strong, modern health care infrastructure is essential to preserving access to care in rural communities,” said Sara Gagné-Holmes, the department’s commissioner.
Applicants and all owned sites must be located in Maine, enrolled as MaineCare providers and serving MaineCare members, appropriately licensed, in good standing with the state, and serving patients from rural communities.
All eligible organizations that submit a qualifying application are expected to receive an award. Final amounts will depend on the number of eligible applicants and sites, as well as rural designation. Rural sites are expected to receive approximately 50% higher funding than comparable non-rural sites serving rural populations.
It’s anticipated that the first year of funding will include approximately $9 million for hospitals. Qualified hospitals that apply are expected to receive an estimated minimum award of $306,000 for rural hospitals and $204,000 for non-rural hospitals.
Around $20.4 million for comprehensive care providers is expected to result in minimum awards of $81,000 per rural site and $54,000 per non-rural site.
Approximately $600,000 for focused care providers is expected to result in minimum awards of $42,000 per rural site and $28,000 per non-rural site.
Funding may be used for electronic medical record system replacements, upgrades, enhancements, related hardware and staff or consultant time needed to implement improvements.
The application process will be hosted by MCD Global Health, a contracted partner supporting Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program, and is anticipated to open in mid-July.
The investments could help providers replace outdated technology, strengthen existing systems and expand capabilities such as population health, augmented intelligence, telehealth, interoperability and cybersecurity.
