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White Papers


Oral Health

Oral Health: An Essential Component of Primary Care (June 2015)
Oral health is essential for healthy development and healthy aging, yet nationwide there is an unacceptably high burden of oral disease.This white paper makes the case for incorporating preventive oral healthcare as a component of routine medical care and structuring referrals to dentistry.

The Oral Health Delivery Framework provides a practical method for primary care teams of all types to engage patients and families in the prevention and early detection of oral disease.

"Oral Health: An Essential Component of Primary Care" was published by Qualis Health with support from the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health, DentaQuest Foundation, Washington Dental Service Foundation and the REACH Healthcare Foundation.


The Oral Health Delivery Framework has been field tested by over a dozen private practices and community health centers in five states.

Learn more about the experience of Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center.

"Oral Health: An Essential Component of Primary Care" is endorsed by:

  • American Academy of Nursing
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Academy of Physician Assistants
  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • American Association for Community Dental Programs
  • Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
  • American Association of Public Health Dentistry
  • American College of Nurse Midwives
  • American Public Health Association–Oral Health Section
  • Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
  • Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
  • Association for State and Territorial Dental Directors
  • Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care
  • National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
  • National Network for Oral Health Access
  • National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
  • National Rural Health Association
  • Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative
  • Physician Assistant Education Association


It is supported by:

  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • National Association of Community Health Centers


Oral Health Integration in the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Environment
(September 2012)
This paper, published by Qualis Health, presents case studies from community health centers that use the PCMH environment to align medical and dental care delivery to address the oral health needs of underserved populations.


Health IT

Advancing Primary Care through the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model and Optimization of Health Information Technology (September 2014)
This white paper from Qualis Health provides guidance to organizations engaged in the work of becoming a patient-centered medical home by showing how health information technology can strengthen PCMH objectives using the framework of the eight change concepts. For each of the change concepts, it provides an overview of how health IT can be configured to best support front line care teams and their patients.