Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Category/Funding request: In this opportunity, Part C Capacity Development Program funds are requested in a total amount of $148,207.69 under Infrastructure Development Category to expand and optimize the dental services offered at PR CONCRA in San Juan, PR via the purchase and modernization of equipment available for these procedures. Summary of proposed activity: The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance and expand the service delivery capacity to increase access to high quality oral health services (decrease chair time required for root canal therapy through the purchase and use of rotary endodontic instrumentation, increase the efficiency of dental diagnostics by purchasing digital radiographic equipment, and increase prosthetic services through the acquisition of an intraoral scanner), as part of the HIV primary health care continuum, delivered at PRCONCRA for low income, uninsured, and underserved people living with HIV. Target populations: PRCONCRA serves annually a population of over 939 Hispanic, low income, under insured and uninsured, and hard to reach clients. Over a half of the clients are residents of the San Juan metropolitan area. Approximately a half receive services funded by Ryan White Part C funds. Homeless and opioid dependent individuals living with HIV/AIDS have been inserted in the continuum of care as emerging special population. For the last three calendar years (2019, 2020, 2021) we have provided oral health care with Part C dollars to an average of 495 unduplicated clients with 3,778 services. Current service activities: PR CONCRA provides clinical and support services through a one stop-shop concept of care (included Oral Health Care), to HIV-positive individuals. At present, the following dental services are offered on site: •Diagnostic services, including intra and extra-oral exams, oral cancer screenings, tobacco cessation counseling, intraoral X-rays, periodontal screenings; •Operative treatment, including composite and amalgam restorations both posterior and anterior teeth; •Periodontal Treatment, including prophy, full mouth debridement and scaling and root planning; •Endodontic treatment to anterior teeth uncomplicated; •Oral Surgery, including extractions of erupted and retained roots and •Prosthetics, including removable prosthetics including cast and valplast partial and full dentures. Problem: An estimated 30% have received external referrals to receive the additional services that the dental clinic cannot provide. The overall goal of the proposed project is to increase the capacity of PRCONCRA’s dental clinic to directly address most of the oral health needs of the population, requiring them to resort - to external providers. This is especially important because of the challenges most clinical providers have to convince clients to visit the dentist at least annually; furthermore, to seek specialized oral health services elsewhere in order to complete the treatment plan. Funding preference: Funding preference is being requested for Underserved populations, due to the broad need of the population served.
