To prepare for its strategic planning process, the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) is exploring how the profession will impact public health in the future.
The ADHA contracted futurists Marsha Rhea and Craig Bettles, and commissioned an environmental scan to help understand the changes dental hygienists must make to contribute to the health and well-being of society.
The report focused specifically on issues that could challenge assumptions about the profession and require the ADHA to explore new opportunities. The scan will be used to make strategic decisions about the association's priorities, programs, and services in the process of developing the new 2012-2015 strategic plan.
Key issues included in the report:
- Identifying future opportunities for dental hygienists in community centers, healthcare organizations, and retail locations.
- Expanding access and ensuring equity in oral healthcare while creating new opportunities for practice.
- Harmonization of practice:Public and private payers will look to harmonize standards and scope of practice to improve quality of and access to oral healthcare.
- Growth of for-profit schools and corporate education: For-profit and corporate education programs will continue to grow, creating fierce competition for jobs in some markets.
- Technology advances in oral health.
- An aging workforce:The largest and most influential generation will be retiring over the next decade and swelling the ranks of older patients with high demands for complex oral healthcare.
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