New Mexico Dental Journal

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28 New Mexico Dental Journal, Fall 2015
OOH
New Mexico Department of Health
Strategic Plan 2014–2016
By Rudy Blea—OOH Program Director
T he Department of Health (DOH) employs over
3,200 individuals throughout the state with
a budget in excess of $540 million delivering
public health services to frontier, rural and urban
communities and 222 sovereign tribal nations. The
DOH Strategic Plan for 2014–2016 is a roadmap
for the agency on how to remain a vital part of an
effective health system today and into the future. In
order to achieve this purpose, DOH must commit to
doing all that can be done to ensure an adequate and
competent workforce and that we are collaborating
with our partners to create a community environment
that promotes healthy lifestyles and the prevention of
injury and disease.
The NMDOH Strategic Plan is intended to be a
practical, descriptive document designed to reflect our
priorities and demonstrate how we are applying our
resources to improve the public’s health.
The process of selecting health priorities began in
the spring of 2011. Staff began researching national
health publications comparing states on health
issues (Kaiser Health Facts, Kids County Data Book,
Healthy People 2020 Health Objectives), and brought
community members and partners to the table to
solicit their input. After considerable review of the
literature, reviewing NM health data, and input
from our partners, it was decided to concentrate on a
number of health objectives.
Oral health was selected as one of the ten health
objectives: Increase access to preventive and dental
care services. National studies reveal that Hispanics
and American Indians have a higher rate of tooth
decay among all populations. Hispanic and Native
American adults are less likely to have a dental visit
and experience high rates of extractions. Middle aged
and older adults tend not to have dental insurance or
Medicaid.
The Office of Oral Health mission and objectives are
to prevent tooth decay and other disease through oral
health education and preventive agents such as the
application dental sealants and fluoride varnish; and
to provide access to treatment services for those who
are uninsured or low-income.
To meet its mission and objectives, the following
strategies have been developed and identified in the
NMDOH State Health Plan:
• Increase the number of preventive
and treatment services to the
uninsured and low-income.
• Increase oral health education
public service announcements
throughout the state.
• Increase the number of children
receiving preventive services.
• Increase the number of residents
consuming fluoridated water.
NMDOH and the Office of Oral Health encourage
the NM Dental Association (NMDA) members and
other private dentists and dental hygienists to support
the Department’s oral health mission and that of
NMDA. Each dental provider can: increase oral
health education at the chair by all providers while
seeing a patient especially parents of young children;
increase the use of dental sealants and fluoride varnish
especially for children, teens, and young adults; and
public support of community water fluoridation and
the consumption of fluoridated water
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