Biography
Biography: Fred Ferguson
Abstract
Significant symptoms that highlight the shortcomings of our healthcare system include health disparities, poor utilization and escalating costs. These fatal flaws are the result of consumers, payers, providers and policy makers not working effectively together. This lack of synergy among the stakeholders is understandable when one realizes that two key components of the system are unavailable: timely data regarding consumer oral health related behaviors and the provider examination data that corroborate these findings. There is an opportunity to effectively inquire about common consumer and caregiver behaviors and authenticate their responses with their dental health record. This information (data) would benefit the healthcare system in order to improve population health, reduce health disparities, reduce costs and create an effective public health policy and practice standards and bring value to dental practice. Goals: The goal of this presentation is for the attendee to understand: 1. Why does healthcare continue to experience cost problems? 2. What impact does dentistry have in this concern? 3. Can oral health management significantly reduce cost? 4. How would this benefit dental care?