INTEGRATING ORAL HEALTH CARE ACROSS NON-DENTAL PROFESSIONALS
PART 2: CASE STUDY Integrated oral health care in midwifery practice
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne, Liverpool, NSW and Sydney | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Associate Professor Rachel Martin, Adjunct Associate Professor,
University of Melbourne & Western Sydney University &
Director, Australian Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH) & Director, Australian Dental Research Foundation
Dr Ajesh George, Professor of Interprofessional Oral Health,
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University &
Co-Founder & Director, Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH)
Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife
Australian College of Midwives
Bonnie Morrison, Health Promotion Team Lead
Dental Health Services Victoria
Cindy Scott, Endorsed Midwife & Registered Nurse
Growing Great Babies and Kids Program, Tweddle &
Early Parenting Centre, Barwon Health, Victoria
Following the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: Part 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline are related”, Part 2 is a Case Study on an integrated oral health care in midwifery practice called the midwifery initiated oral health model, or MIOH for short.
There is limited emphasis being placed on perinatal oral health by prenatal care providers in Australia. Pregnant women have no system in place that can offer them regular oral assessment during pregnancy and prompt dental treatment at minimal or no cost as experienced in other countries. To address the oral health needs of pregnant women, a unique midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) model was developed to promote and maintain maternal oral health.
The model equips midwives with the skills and confidence to include oral health promotion in the first antenatal care booking visit. Commenced in 2008 in Campbelltown Hospital in South Western Sydney, MIOHis succeeding in improving the oral health knowledge, behaviours and oral health outcomes of pregnant women.
This widely researched online education program was prepared by the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health, in collaboration with various partners including Western Sydney University, Sydney & South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney Dental Hospital, Dental Health Services Victoria, and the Australian College of Midwives. It was supported by funding from the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy, Western Sydney University and the Australian College of Midwives.
Australian Health Journal spoke with some of the key representatives of the organisations involved in the establishment, support and involvement in the program.
To see the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: PART 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline”, click here
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Continuity of Care under COVID-19
Series 3, Episode 1
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Healthcare system has handled the public health crisis by monitoring and responding to challenges in supply chains, testing & tracing of new infections and stock piling of essential equipment.
The public has largely responded by practising social distancing, understanding how hand hygiene can spread contagion and recently installing the COVIDSafe mobile application. Public health messaging has been largely effective and literacy improve, to combat the dangers of misinformation.
To open up access to medical advice during the pandemic, in March the Australian government issued MBS item codes for telehealth consultations, for advanced practice nurses as well as GPs and other specialists.
According to AMA President Dr Tony Bartone, as of mid-May 2020, around 10 million Medicare-funded telehealth services have been provided, either over the phone or via video, a significant majority of which have been provided by GPs and other specialists since the Medicare telehealth items were introduced in March.
However in recent months, the health system has mounting concerns on:
- a reduction in general practice visits for testing, investigation or immunisation
- lower rates of elective procedures resuming since being halted
- reduction in laboratory testing
- reduction in treatments and diagnosis of chronic and acute conditions
- access to, and continuing to take medications
Those with pre-existing conditions have been urged to keep appointments and routine treatments to maintain their health.
Industry has taken action such as the newly formed Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC). The 15 health organisations forming CCC are an Australian first national communication collaboration of Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations coming together to stress the importance for people to continue monitoring their health and maintaining their regular care.
This Australian Health Journal episode on the continuity of care was produced with commentary from the following health industry associations and organisations: APNA – Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, RACGP, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), West Cessnock Medical Practice, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Medicines Australia
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Sense of service and pride in uniform
This ANZAC Day 2023, Australian Health Journal releases an interview with Group Captain Kath Stein MACN, Director of Defence Force Nursing with the Royal Australian Air Force.
She talks about many masks, aside from PPE, that leadership and all nurses need to wear. Currently there is work underway on a new capability description on what a nurse brings to every level in the nursing defence structure. The advice Group Captain Stein, imparts for new recruits and those interested in joining Defence Force Nursing is to take every opportunity that arises. This is evident in her progression through her career.
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New option for management of high-risk soft tissue sarcoma of the limb
SARC032 is the first completed randomised clinical trial of its kind and has demonstrated compelling evidence to integrate immunotherapy, with the standard treatment regimen of radiotherapy and surgery for patients with grade 2 or 3, stage III soft tissue sarcoma of the limb.
