Banner Ironwood Medical Center in Queen Creek is among the 28 acute-care hospitals benefiting from the expansion of the Hospital Oral Care and Periodontal Disease Education (HOPE) program. This joint initiative by Delta Dental of Arizona and the Banner Health Foundation will serve potentially 300,000 patients per year across hospitals located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming.

The HOPE program was first piloted at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, an Age-Friendly Healthcare System recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. After an encouraging trial run lasting nearly a year, the decision was made to extend the program to all Banner medical centers.

The key mission of the program is to decrease incidences of hospital-acquired pneumonia and improve patient outcomes, primarily by enhancing oral health practices among patients. Poor oral hygiene is not just a dental issue – it can lead to severe disease and dramatically reduce quality of life, especially for the elderly. Hospitalized patients are particularly at risk as oral bacteria can migrate to the lungs, causing hospital-acquired pneumonia, a severe and potentially life-threatening infection.

Dr. Nimit Agarwal, a geriatrics and internal medicine physician and a leading voice in geriatric medicine at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, underlined the importance of oral hygiene for the overall health of patients. According to Dr. Agarwal, regular toothbrushing to remove biofilm from teeth can significantly reduce the chances of developing pneumonia.

The Banner HOPE program, backed by the generous support from the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, offers comprehensive oral health support across different hospital units and departments. It works in collaboration with nursing staff and therapists to identify and overcome barriers to dental care. It also promotes proper oral health routines including brushing and flossing. An oral health navigator was introduced at the pilot stage, a role critical to the success of the program.

While the pilot phase of the HOPE program focused on the dental care needs of patients aged 65 and older and adults with disabilities, the expanded protocol is designed to serve all adult patients. The initiative further includes training for nurses and patient care assistants on patient oral health care.

Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona, affirmed that the organization has always been a strong advocate for enhancing collaboration between dental and medical providers to eliminate barriers to care. The Banner HOPE program directly supports this mission.

Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Chief Medical Officer for Banner Health, expressed gratitude to the Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona for their partnership. She emphasized that the program exemplifies the profound impact philanthropic investment can have in fueling healthcare innovation.

As a point of clarification, despite common references to its original location in San Tan Valley (built in 2010), the Banner Ironwood Medical Center was annexed into the Town of Queen in 2017 and is now located in Queen Creek.

Photo: L-R: Nicole Petit, RDH; Sandra Badzak, PCA; Michael Jones, President & CEO, Delta Dental of Arizona, Josefa Pucti, PCA; Susan Dimpfel, RN; and Dr. Nimit Agarwal, MD, FACP (photo courtesy of Delta Dental of Arizona)