Kristin Raphel

The District of Columbia's Health Systems Plan (HSP) serves as a roadmap to strengthen the health and healthcare systems, aiming to improve the overall health status of residents and achieve health equity. The plan's strategic priorities include promoting a culture of health and wellness, addressing social determinants of health, strengthening public-private partnerships, integrating clinical medicine and public health, and utilizing a data-driven approach for program and policy development. The HSP outlines strategic recommendations across health services strengthening, health systems and structures, and community health.

The 2024 District of Columbia Health Systems Plan serves as a roadmap to strengthen the District's health system and improve overall resident health outcomes. It prioritizes promoting a culture of health and wellness, addressing social determinants of health, strengthening public-private partnerships, integrating clinical medicine and public health, and implementing data-driven approaches. The plan aims to ensure residents are actively engaged in care and have access to comprehensive, high-quality, and well-coordinated services, working towards an equitable and accessible health system where all DC residents can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

The meeting served as the program kickoff for the Diabetes Prevention and Management Community of Practice. Key topics discussed included an overview of the program's goals, objectives, and curriculum, strategies for cross-sectoral collaboration, and the importance of identifying and mapping referral pathways to strengthen clinical and community partnerships. Additionally, resources such as the CDC DSME toolkit and promotional playbooks were introduced to assist providers in expanding program access, visibility, and sustainability.

The meeting focused on leveraging the LinkU network and the Find Help platform to connect individuals with free or reduced-cost resources. Key discussion topics included community engagement strategies, the use of the LinkU community site versus the staff portal for data tracking and referral management, and the criteria for programs to be listed on the platform. The session also featured a live demonstration of the search functionality for various community services.

The Board of Dentistry meeting included discussions on various topics. The Executive Director reported on the AADA Conference, covering the elimination of the CDC's Division of Oral Health, infection control guidelines, and anesthesia evaluation protocols. Updates were shared on licensing, discipline, legislation, and policies in other jurisdictions, including foreign-trained dentists, unlicensed practice, and AI in dentistry. The Board also discussed the Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit and Educator Conference, highlighting the merger of CDCA, WREB, CITA, and ADEX. Legislative updates included the Community Health Amendment Act and the Medical Debt Mitigation Amendment Act. The Credentials & Audits sub-committee recommended the approval of several Dental Assistant Training Schools. The Regulatory Affairs sub-committee is working on collaborative practice agreements with dental hygienists and changes to Dental Assistant regulations. The Board also considered electing a Vice Chair and discussed the proposed Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, tabling the matter for further information.