Some current factors restricting the potential of private general practice.
This background paper focuses on two or three aspects which, in the writer's opinion, are crucial to the healthy development of general dental practice, although the rapidly progressing health reforms have already altered the relevance of some comments made. The first aspect is equitable access, especially for the financially disadvantaged in this time of economic recession. The ability and inclination of providers to treat the financially disadvantaged has not currently been matched by the political will of funders, even though an effective system could simply be organised. Access problems also apply to the elderly. A smooth transitional system of oral health care should exist for every aging patient, whether economically, physically, and mentally healthy, or in a state of total dependence, and this should be an integral part of general dental practice management. Generally it is not. Secondly, the fragmentation of the New Zealand dental workforce, and the lack of a real team approach have hindered the logical development of oral health services and prevented many possible options from being offered. Dialogue to reduce the fragmentation must continue, hopefully to a successful conclusion. Perhaps the catalyst for meaningful change may be contained in the current health reforms. Certainly opportunities for change have been clearly signalled.
Stanley
B
B
D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003800:Dental Technicians; D003815:Dentists; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011331:Private Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends