Three healthcare disciplines collaborate at clinic

April 18, 2023 – DENTON – Twice a year, students from the dental hygiene and the speech-language pathology programs at Texas Woman’s University work together to care for clients at the Stroke Center - Dallas. 

In April, the two programs added another discipline to their interprofessional event. Occupational students collaborated with senior-level dental hygiene and SLP students at the all-day clinic. 

“This experience is so valuable for students and the clients we served,” TWU Dental Hygiene Program Director Charlene Dickinson said.  "Interprofessional collaboration in healthcare helps to deliver patient-centered care, creating better patient outcomes.”

Stroke Center clients received care from all three healthcare disciplines at the clinic. Dental hygiene students under direct supervision of a licensed dentist and dental hygiene faculty provided free dental services to interested clients at the Stroke Center. 

While DH students provided oral health services, SLP students observed and facilitated communication between faculty, students and patients when needed. The SLP students offered speech and language therapy while the DH students observed. Occupational therapy students observed both DH and SLP, and offered strategies for patients on how to accomplish activities of daily living, such as brushing and flossing. 

Dean Bruss from Crest/Oral-B donated a power toothbrush to each client who participated in the event. 

“Interprofessional education in healthcare disciplines helps to promote a more well-rounded, confident healthcare provider,” Dickinson said.