1013. Enhanced Oral Health Care Services for PLWHA - Midlands Region, South Carolina

Abstract

BackgroundAn estimated 58- 64 % of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) do not receive regular dental care and this gap may be attributed to barriers related to cost, access to dental care, logistical issues, indifference to or fear of dental care.1,2 The Immunology Center at Prisma- University of South Carolina, School of Medicine is a Ryan White funded Part B Program that provides care to > 2400 PLWHA. Based on the perceived barriers, an enhanced oral health care program was implemented in 2018, wherein patients in need of dental care and meeting inclusion criteria are referred to contracted local general dentistry and specialty practices.EnhancementsDedicated Dental Services Coordinator (DSC)Facilitated transport to and from the dental clinicAnnual budget of $2700 per patientAccess to dental specialties (oral and maxillofacial surgery)Restorative services (crowns, dentures and root canals)Program GoalsThe ultimate goal of the oral health care program is to provide biannual dental prophylaxis and expanded restorative services to PLWHA.Inclusion criteria for referrals1 Virological suppression over 6 months. (HIV Viral Load < 200 c/mL)2 Adherence with HIV clinic appointments.Midlands Region, South Carolina MethodsThe DSC completes the following: monitoring of referrals, patient compliance to program inclusion criteria, linkage to dental care, payments for dental services, and coordination with case management.ResultsBetween 2018 and 2019, 535 patients were referred to the oral health care program. Almost 75% 399 completed at least one dental clinic visit. The average number of visits for patients from their enrollment date (2018-2019 to December 2019 was 1.56, with an average of 8.08 services, and 1.13 prophylaxis visits with their oral health care provider. Patients were predominantly African American and male but were spread across a wide age spectrum and 8 counties. Nearly 94% of patients remained virologically suppressed during their oral health care treatment.Table 1: 2018-2019 Program Summary of Oral Health Care Table 2 & Figure 1: Oral Health Care Patients by Age Group, Figure 2: Oral Health Care Patient by Gender Table 3 & Figure 3: Oral Health Care Patients by Race and Ethnicity, Table 4 & Figure 4: Oral Health Care Patient by County ConclusionPLWHA have high rates of unmet oral health care needs and low utilization of oral health services. Adequate resources and coordination of care with local dentists can overcome traditional barriers and improve access to dental care. References Disclosures: All Authors: No reported disclosures