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Steps to a HealthierUS Prevention Summit April 29-30, 2004 Baltimore, Maryland |
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Dear Colleagues,
I want to thank everyone that was involved in making the California Dental Hygienists' Association's (CDHA) presence at this prevention summit a successful one. This summit represented the next step in preventing chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, by addressing the risk factors associated with these chronic diseases, such as, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.
This summit brought together the people that are making a difference on a federal, state, and local level - health care professionals, educators and policy makers, community and industry leaders. It builds on the HealthierUS initiative that aims to create a healthier, more prevention oriented society, addressing the areas of physical activity, nutrition, preventive screenings, and healthy choices.
Secretary Tommy Thompson thanked and commended organizations, such as, the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and the CDHA, for supporting and advancing the Steps to a HealthierUS initiative. Surgeon General Richard Carmona also thanked everyone for stepping up prevention efforts to fight chronic diseases, and for making sure all prevention messages get to the American public. Surgeon General Carmona once again charged all individuals, health care professionals, and communities to work together to improve health.
Secretary Thompson announced a "Blueprint for Action" to reduce and prevent chronic diseases. The Blueprint outlines steps that individuals, families, employers, health insurers, health care providers and professionals, researchers and health educators, the media, and state, local and tribal governments, communities and other organizations can take to help improve the overall health of Americans.
The CDHA provided a poster titled, "The Role of the Dental Hygienist in Promoting Effective Health and Disease Prevention Measures." I stated that dental hygienists are now involved in tobacco cessation, and have long been involved in nutritional counseling, and blood pressure screening. By providing these services, as well as, obtaining a comprehensive health history, dental hygienists can establish the presence or risk of chronic disease, and refer those who are identified to be at risk, to an appropriate medical provider. I also mentioned that dental hygienists can expand health promotion and chronic disease prevention efforts by incorporating tobacco cessation, nutritional counseling and blood pressure screening into our practices, and refer to other health care team members as warranted by our assessments, screenings, and history taking.
Many people were interested in the ADHA's Ask. Advise. Refer. program, to include, Denis Lynch, DDS, PhD. At the summit, Dr. Lynch described the American Dental Association's efforts to increase early detection of oral cancer, and training courses for dentists to sharpen skills in early detection, patient-risk assessment, and tobacco cessation. Dr. Lynch and I were the only oral health care professionals who presented at the summit.
I pointed out that chronic disease risk factors, such as tobacco use and poor dietary practices, also affect oral health, and dental hygienists can deliver tobacco cessation and nutritional counseling contributing to both overall general health and oral health. I also pointed out that physical activity is a critical component of a healthy eating plan, and they both go hand-in-hand. I mentioned that dental hygienists can motivate and educate patients/clients to improve their eating and physical activity habits.
Blood pressure screening is another service that is common to the dental hygiene appointment. This service may suggest the presence of hypertension, as well as hypertension control. I announced that the CDHA is observing May 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Month, to urge Californians to have their blood pressure checked regularly and if it's high, to follow their physicians advice to keep it under control. This campaign is also an effort to raise awareness that dental hygienists can expand referral protocols by referring those who are suspected to be at risk for developing hypertension to their primary care provider.
I sent a clear message that dental hygienists are important health care team members that play a critical role in the U.S. Health Care System. I also delivered a message that dental hygienists can expand health promotion and disease prevention measures, such as tobacco cessation and nutritional counseling, and play a role in promoting healthy lifestyles. By all of us working together, and bringing in our expertise and talents, we can all improve quality of life, and reduce the burden of chronic disease in America.
Yours in good health,
C. Austin Risbeck, RDH
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