After all I have written to Modern Healthcare about the integration of medical and dental care, did you think to check on whether this HL7 standard explicitly supports integration of medical and dental care and data?

If not, then that HL7 standard is OOA = OBSOLETE ON ARRIVAL!

Please note AAP (American Academy Pediatrics) statements and positions on integration of medical and dental care and data.

Please note these statements from a community health clinic in Ashland, Wis., which may know more about this than HL7:

“According to a surgeon general report, “Oral Health In America,” scientific knowledge has evolved to consider the mouth and oral cavity as an integral and interrelated part of the human body and view disease through the medical model. Cavities and periodontal disease are now understood to be chronic diseases caused by specific transmissible bacteria.

“Additionally, research has shown associations between chronic periodontal disease and several systemic conditions such as diabetes, low birth weight outcomes and cardiovascular disease.

“Through integrating oral health services into the medical home, the community has developed a great structure for action to:

n Change the public’s perception and heighten community understanding and awareness regarding the importance of oral health maintenance.

n Change policymaker perception and continue to draw in involvement and support from local, State and federal policymakers to ensure that oral health issues are understood and backed for future development.

n Change health provider’s perception — TLCHC is excited to engage not only community members into this new model of care but also local health care providers to encourage oral health education and assessments as part of a traditional health care exam.

“In summary, TLCHC embraces the integration of dental care into its medical model. As oral health parallels the broadened meaning of health — ‘a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being’ one cannot be healthy without oral health.”

I think HL7’s leadership should visit Ashland, Wis., to get up to date info on how standards should be formulated, also Marshfield, Wis. If HL7 did not integrate medical and dental care and data, shame on HL7! I hope you find I am wrong.

Valerie J H Powell
university professor,
 computer and information systems
Chair, education and training, WG, WorldVistA
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, Pa.