Spreading Inovation - Article Example

Innovations in health care organizations “Cavity Free at Three” program Colorado community-based health program is aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of medical education to health professionals. "Cavity Free at Three” is an innovation of the Colorado state that is designed to prevent oral disease in children until they are three years old. It is an academic–community partnership that involves the University of Colorado and some community-based health centers that serve some regions of Colorado.

“Cavity Free at Three” offers education and training to healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, pediatricians, public health practitioners, and dentists. The program trains professionals who serve low-income children, mostly in health centers. In the program, health providers are taught how to integrate oral health risk assessment and fluoride varnish applications into services that are usually offered to young children (DHHS, 2012).Introduction of a similar innovation in an organizationThere are particular main problems that affect the oral health of children.

These problems include tooth decay, sucking of the thumb, tongue thrusting, and lip sucking. Although baby teeth will later be replaced with permanent teeth, keeping the teeth of children healthy is critical to their health and well-being (Kramer et al., 2013). The mouth has many bacteria, although most of them are harmless. Good oral health care can help to keep the bacteria at bay. Nonetheless, without appropriate oral hygiene, these bacteria can cause oral infections such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Many children, especially in low-income families face the problem of tooth decay, and it is important that they get help in order to overcome these issues (Salem et al., 2012). The Colorado community-based health program is aimed at ensuring that the health care professionals are well-equipped to ensure that children’s oral health is maintained.As the manager of Colorado Health Center, I find “Cavity Free at Three" program to be a very noble idea. The first step in the introduction of the program to the organization is to offer training for all health professionals that work in the organization.

Proper training will ensure that every employee understands the idea behind the innovation in order to implement it. The training will involve explaining to the staff the importance of the program and what the organization aims to achieve. The organization will collaborate with the community and other health organizations in its implementation.Strategies to sustain the programIn order to maintain the program for a long time, the organization will ensure that it sets aside enough funds to be used for running it.

The annual budget of the organization will ensure that it caters for all training and workshops associated with the program (Swayne, 2012). The employees must continually receive training in order to understand the goals of the program and how to make it more efficient. It is important to ensure that the community gives its support to the program. The community can participate by mobilizing its members to appreciate the role the organization plays in ensuring that they live a healthy life (Kongstvedt, 2012).

The organization will also ensure that it follows up with people who have received services provided through the program. Follow-ups ensure that the program serves its purpose.ReferencesKramer, P. F., Feldens, C. A., Helena Ferreira, S., Bervian, J., Rodrigues, P. H., & Peres, M. A. (2013). Exploring the impact of oral diseases and disorders on quality of life of preschool children. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 41(4), 327-335.Kongstvedt, P. (2012). Essentials of managed health care.

Jones & Bartlett Publishers.Salem, K., Kousha, M., Anissian, A., & Shahabi, A. (2012). Dental fear and concomitant factors in 3-6 year-old children. Journal of dental research, dental clinics, dental prospects, 6(2), 70.Swayne, E., Duncan, J., & Ginter, M. (2012). Strategic management of health care organizations. John Wiley & Sons.U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). (2012). Community-Based Provider Training and Education Enhances Access to Oral Health Screenings and Fluoride Treatments for Low-Income Children.

Retrieved on May 12, 2015 from https://innovations.ahrq.gov/profiles/community-based-provider-training-and-education- enhances-access-oral-health-screenings-and