Expansion of the IOHA Bi-Directional Medical-Dental Closed Loop Referral Network (aka IOHA Referral Network): A 2020 DTA Foundation Grant Project

The DTA Foundation pivoted its funding in 2020 to projects relating to the pandemic and its negative affect on oral health care or overall care. Idaho Oral Health Alliance was one of six 2020 grant recipients. See below for a brief description of their 2020 DTA Foundation grant project: Expansion of the IOHA Bi-Directional Medical-Dental Closed Loop Referral Network (aka IOHA Referral Network)

The IOHA Referral Network improves access to healthcare because it gives medical and dental providers a managed and professional referral resource to help patients find short-term urgent care and long-term dental or medical homes.

The Patterson Dental Foundation has given $12,500 to help with this endeavor. This bi-directional medical/dental referral system is designed to improve access to high quality healthcare by giving medical and dental providers a managed, professional referral resource to help connect their patients to care. Network members are also coached on the importance of preventive care, the interconnectedness between oral health and whole health, and the need for a cross-discipline approach to patient care.