Browse Publications

Dental Therapists in the United States: Health Equity, Advancing

Dental therapists (DTs) are primary care dental providers, used globally, and were introduced in the United States (US) in 2005. DTs have now been adopted in 13 states and several Tribal nations....

Author(s): Elizabeth Mertz, Aubri Kottek, Miranda Werts, Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, and Jean Moore
Source: Medical Care
Date: Oct 2021

Dental Public Health Post-Graduate Trainees in the US: Experiences, Challenges, and Opportunities—A Qualitative Study

The goal of this study was to explore challenges and opportunities that dental public health (DPH) residents and recent graduates experienced during and after their residency training programs in the...

Author(s): Sepideh Banava, Enihomo Obadan-Udoh, and Elizabeth Mertz
Date: September 25, 2021

It's a Human Connection: Paid Caregiving in Rural America

Personal Care Aides (PCAs) are vital to the well-being of people with disabilities yet there are shortages of these workers in many parts of the country. PCAs are employed to support people with...

Author(s): Rayna Sage, Lillie Greiman, Ari Lissau, Susan Chapman, Laura Wagner, and Kirsi Toivanen-Atilla
Date: September 17, 2021

Investing in a 21st Century Health Workforce: A Call for Accountability

The nation requires a workforce adequately sized and educated in the specialty areas needed to address the health needs of all people that practices in the places, settings, and specialties where...

Author(s): Angela Beck, Joanne Spetz, Patricia Pittman, Biance Frogner, Erin Fraher, Jean Moore, David Armstrong, and Peter Buerhaus
Date: September 15, 2021

Development of the California Oral Health Literacy Toolkit

Although many factors contribute to the high prevalence of oral health problems and widening disparities in the U.S., limited oral health literacy has emerged as a major contributor. Oral health...

Author(s): Linda Neuhauser, Anthony Eleftherion, Rebecca Freed, Rosanna Jackson, Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Jessica Liu, Susan Ivey, Kristin Hoeft, Alice Horowitz, and Jayanth Kumar
Date: Sep 2021

Optimal Staffing Models to Care for Frail Older Adults in Primary Care And Geriatrics Practices in the U.S.

Different staffing configurations in primary and geriatric care practices could have implications for how best to deliver services that are essential for a growing population of older adults. Using...

Author(s): David Auerbach, Douglas Levy, Peter Maramaldi, Robert Dittus, Joanne Spetz, Peter Buerhaus, and Karen Donelan
Date: Sep 2021

Advancing Health Worker Well-Being: Trends and Opportunities

Health systems are uniquely positioned to advance health equity in communities by ensuring that workers are well, resilient, and equipped to deliver high-quality care. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown...

Author(s): Sunita Mutha, Emily Shen, and Diane Schweitzer
Date: Sep 2021

Assessing the Job Satisfaction of Registered Nurses Using Sentiment Analysis and Clustering Analysis

Job satisfaction is a critical component of the professional work environment and is often ascertained through surveys that include structured or open-ended questions. Differences between the job...

Author(s): Matthew Jura, Joanne Spetz, and Der-Ming Liou
Date: August 12, 2021

The CMS State Innovation Model Initiative and Improved Health Information Technology and Care Management Capabilities of Physician Practices

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) State Innovation Models (SIMs) initiative funded 17 states to implement health care payment and delivery system reforms to improve health system...

Author(s): Zosha Kandel, Diane Rittenhouse, Salma Bibi, Taressa Fraze, Stephen Shortell, and Hector Rodríguez
Date: Aug 2021

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on California’s Registered Nurse Workforce: Preliminary Data

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous concerns about the nursing workforce have been reported. This study used data from two surveys conducted in California to assess the current and future supply...

Author(s): Joanne Spetz, Lela Chu, and Lisel Blash
Date: Aug 2021