MaineHealth ACO and Maine Medical Partners have created over 30 pediatric outpatient referral guidelines to help decide when a referral is necessary for common conditions. The goals of the Pediatric Referral Guidelines is to improve communication across the Medical Neighborhood through standardization of pediatric specialty referrals.

These guidelines are not meant to be a comprehensive management algorithm, but rather a decision making tool to help primary care providers decide:

• Is a referral is needed?
• Is there an opportunity for co-management?
• Can my patient stay in the medical home?

In addition to the guidelines, we also recorded videos that feature a conversation between a primary care provider and a pediatric dentist about dental caries and dental trauma and how they can utilize the guideline to decide if a referral is needed.

Dental Caries

The Pediatric Specialty Guidelines for Dental Caries describes the management and potential referral for children with dental caries and the timing of the referral. The video presents a dialogue with a pediatrician and pediatric dentists that walks through the referral guidelines for early childhood caries for primary care providers and expands upon a few specific cases.

Dental Caries: Primary Teeth Referral Guideline – PDF

Dental Caries: Permanent Teeth Referral Guideline – PDF

Dental Caries: Permanent Teeth – Video

Dental Trauma  

The Pediatric Specialty Guidelines for Dental Trauma discusses the management and referral for children with dental injuries as well as the timing of referrals. The video presents a dialogue with a pediatrician and pediatric dentist that walks through the referral guidelines for primary care providers and expands upon a few specific cases.

Dental Trauma: Primary Teeth Referral Guideline – PDF

Dental Trauma: Permanent Teeth Referral Guideline – PDF

Dental Trauma in Pediatric Care – Video