Strategic challenge
The STELZ aspired to increase knowledge among Flemish dentists about the current care offer within the Primary Care Zones (ELZ) and also wanted to increase dentists' representation in the Care Councils. In addition, the STELZ was also looking for support in professionalising the operation of the STELZ, including in the form of expanding brand awareness.
Approach
The STELZ actively pursued communication on the role of dentists within the Primary Care Zones and Care Councils. To start communicating specifically about the role of dentists within the ELZ, a campaign plan was drawn up, with monthly actions, in which dentists were structurally informed about the functioning of the Primary Care Zones and the Social Map, and the role dentists can take up within the Primary Care Zones and Care Councils.
Several communication channels were established for this purpose, including a website (www.tandartsen.vlaanderen), a LinkedIn community page and a YouTube channel, all maintained by the STELZ. Through these channels, all information relevant to dentists within the Primary Care Zones was compiled. Among other things, one could find infographics, articles from Primary Care Zones, newsletters, testimonials or reference material from the webinars. One webinar explained the functioning of Primary Care Zones and the role dentists can include in them through practical examples. Another webinar was organised jointly with other professional groups. A central email address was also set up where dentists could send their questions or comments.
Interaction with the group of dentists was also sought through questionnaires and interviews. These probed dentists' knowledge of Primary Care Areas and the limitations they experience within Primary Care Areas today. Among other things, the results formed the basis for drawing up an action plan for STELZ to work on in order to further increase the involvement of dentists within Primary Care Zones in the coming months. It also focused on cooperation with other professional groups such as dental hygienists, general practitioners, dieticians, etc.
The ambitions of the STELZ and the support needed for this were eventually compiled in a report delivered to the Flemish Agency for Care and Health. After all, the STELZ wished to:
- increase the representation of dentists within Care Councils and working groups
- increase the accessibility of prevention to specific groups (including residential care centres and institutions for people with disabilities)
- establish partnerships with other professional groups.
Results
The cooperation between VVT and VBT went smoothly and constructively. Thanks to the STELZ cooperation, a large group of dentists (3,400 or so) could be periodically informed about the operation of the First-line zones and the dentists were also put in touch with each other to inspire each other about possible forms of involvement within the primary care.
