Consortium for oral health-related informatics: Improving dental research, education, and treatment

Paul C. Stark, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Joel M. White, Muhammad F. Walji, Denice C.L. Stewart, Nicole Kimmes, Thomas R. Meng, George P. Willis, Ted DeVries, Robert J. Chapman

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    32 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Advances in informatics, particularly the implementation of electronic health records (EHR), in dentistry have facilitated the exchange of information. The majority of dental schools in North America use the same EHR system, providing an unprecedented opportunity to integrate these data into a repository that can be used for oral health education and research. In 2007, fourteen dental schools formed the Consortium for Oral Health-Related Informatics (COHRI). Since its inception, COHRI has established structural and operational processes, governance and bylaws, and a number of work groups organized in two divisions: one focused on research (data standardization, integration, and analysis), and one focused on education (performance evaluations, virtual standardized patients, and objective structured clinical examinations). To date, COHRI (which now includes twenty dental schools) has been successful in developing a data repository, pilot-testing data integration, and sharing EHR enhancements among the group. This consortium has collaborated on standardizing medical and dental histories, developing diagnostic terminology, and promoting the utilization of informatics in dental education. The consortium is in the process of assembling the largest oral health database ever created. This will be an invaluable resource for research and provide a foundation for evidence-based dentistry for years to come.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)1051-1065
    Number of pages15
    JournalJournal of dental education
    Volume74
    Issue number10
    StatePublished - Oct 1 2010

    Keywords

    • Dental education
    • Dentistry
    • Education
    • Evidence-based dentistry
    • Informatics
    • Research

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Education
    • General Dentistry

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