Comprehensive Data On Michigan's Oral Health Workforce
Here is a very interesting survey. The entire article is available at State Of Michigan Web site.
Contact: T.J. Bucholz (517) 241-2112
Agency: Community Health
June 20, 2007
Results from surveys of licensed Michigan dentists and dental hygienists, conducted by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), show high rates of workforce attrition in the next ten years, lack of diversity in the oral health field, and limited oral health care options for Medicaid patients and the uninsured.
The 2006 Survey of Dentists and 2006 Survey of Dental Hygienists reports include information on employment status, age, plans to continue practicing, work setting, education, gender, and racial/ethnic background of licensed dentists and hygienists in Michigan.
Key findings from the surveys indicate the following:
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43 percent of dentists and 38 percent of hygienists plan to practice for only one to ten more years. These rates are high compared to both registered nurses and physicians, of whom 33 percent and 34 percent, respectively, plan to practice for only one to ten more years.
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Seven percent of dentists plan to retire, seven percent plan to reduce patient care hours, and two percent plan to move their practice out of state in the next three years.
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37 percent of dentists are aged 55 or older, and 80 percent of those who plan to retire or reduce patient care hours cite age as a factor in their decision.
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14 percent of dentists and 8 percent of hygienists are working in their respective fields outside of Michigan.
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81 percent of dentists are male, and more than 99 percent of dental hygienists are female. 85 percent of dentists and 95 percent of hygienists are white.
"The survey findings certainly suggest that we will need to continue to expand the oral health workforce to meet the needs that are created by turnover in the field as well as by a lack of diversity," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "The fields of dentistry represent a growth industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and should be marketed to both young men and women, and especially to minorities."
The survey also found that the vast majority of Medicaid and uninsured dental patients are seen by a small minority of dental providers.
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64 percent of dentists report that none of their patients in a typical month are children covered by Medicaid or MIChild, and 1 percent of survey respondents report seeing an average of 250 or more of these patients each month.
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86 percent report that none of their patients in a typical month are adults covered by Medicaid, and one percent of respondents report seeing an average of 60 or more of these patients each month.
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75 percent report seeing 20 or fewer uninsured children in a typical month, while one percent of respondents see an average of 300 or more of these patients each month.
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75 percent also report seeing 30 or fewer uninsured adults each month, while one percent of respondents see an average of 500 or more of these patients each month.
Contact: T.J. Bucholz (517) 241-2112
Agency: Community Health
June 20, 2007
Results from surveys of licensed Michigan dentists and dental hygienists, conducted by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), show high rates of workforce attrition in the next ten years, lack of diversity in the oral health field, and limited oral health care options for Medicaid patients and the uninsured.
The 2006 Survey of Dentists and 2006 Survey of Dental Hygienists reports include information on employment status, age, plans to continue practicing, work setting, education, gender, and racial/ethnic background of licensed dentists and hygienists in Michigan.
Key findings from the surveys indicate the following:
*
43 percent of dentists and 38 percent of hygienists plan to practice for only one to ten more years. These rates are high compared to both registered nurses and physicians, of whom 33 percent and 34 percent, respectively, plan to practice for only one to ten more years.
*
Seven percent of dentists plan to retire, seven percent plan to reduce patient care hours, and two percent plan to move their practice out of state in the next three years.
*
37 percent of dentists are aged 55 or older, and 80 percent of those who plan to retire or reduce patient care hours cite age as a factor in their decision.
*
14 percent of dentists and 8 percent of hygienists are working in their respective fields outside of Michigan.
*
81 percent of dentists are male, and more than 99 percent of dental hygienists are female. 85 percent of dentists and 95 percent of hygienists are white.
"The survey findings certainly suggest that we will need to continue to expand the oral health workforce to meet the needs that are created by turnover in the field as well as by a lack of diversity," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "The fields of dentistry represent a growth industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and should be marketed to both young men and women, and especially to minorities."
The survey also found that the vast majority of Medicaid and uninsured dental patients are seen by a small minority of dental providers.
*
64 percent of dentists report that none of their patients in a typical month are children covered by Medicaid or MIChild, and 1 percent of survey respondents report seeing an average of 250 or more of these patients each month.
*
86 percent report that none of their patients in a typical month are adults covered by Medicaid, and one percent of respondents report seeing an average of 60 or more of these patients each month.
*
75 percent report seeing 20 or fewer uninsured children in a typical month, while one percent of respondents see an average of 300 or more of these patients each month.
*
75 percent also report seeing 30 or fewer uninsured adults each month, while one percent of respondents see an average of 500 or more of these patients each month.
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