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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'All Models Are Wrong, But Some Are Useful: The Case for Integrating EHDI and Other Child Health Information Systems' Track: 8-Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance Audience: Primary Audience: State Health Department Secondary Audience: Federal Agency Tertiary Audeince: University Keyword(s): Business Case, Economic Model, Follow-up Rates Learning Objectives: 1. Identify two areas within state EHDI programs in which focused quality improvement efforts would be likely to result in a substantial return on investment to public and private stakeholders. 2. Describe the use of a business case model to evaluate the projected benefits to five state EHDI programs that would result after integration with information systems of other child health programs. 3. Discuss the implications to funders and administrators of being presented with a strong business case for integrating EHDI with other child health information systems. Abstract: Although screening rates at birth for congenital hearing loss are high, follow-up rates for abnormal screening results are low in many states. When multiple child health caregivers (such as primary care physicians, audiologists, WIC case workers, and others in the public health system) have information that a child should receive additional testing for hearing loss, the assumption is that follow-up rates would improve. However, since few states have integrated child health information systems that incorporate information from all the programs in which a child may be enrolled, there is no evidence to support that assumption. By using an economic model, the financial and health improvements from increased follow-up and enrollment in an intervention program prior to age 6 months can be predicted with a high level of accuracy. To that end, the Public Health Informatics Institute, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, contracted with the health economists at the Lewin Group to develop the Business Case Model (BCM), which demonstrates the effects of integrating the information systems of state EHDI Programs, Vital Records, Immunization, Newborn Dried Blood Spot Screening, Lead Screening, Women Infants and Children’s Program, Early and Periodic Screening and Intervention, and Birth Defects. The BCM has been used in five states to date, and in each case the BCM demonstrated that if child health information systems were integrated, the EHDI Program would produce larger financial benefits to families, employers, insurers, government, and society as a whole than any other child health program. These savings would be realized through projected increases in interventions for mild to profound hearing loss before the age of six months, which would lead to decreases in costs for special education and medical care, and an increase in lifetime productivity. Presentation(s): Not Available Handouts: Not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Karen Torghele - Public Health Informatics Inst      Credentials: M.P.H.       Ms. Torghele is presently the Health Scientist for Programs at the Public Health Informatics Institute, a program of the Taskforce for Global Health in Decatur, Georgia. She formerly worked as an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Branch and at the Reproductive Health Branch. She also helped develop and coordinate The CDC Experience, a one-year fellowship in applied epidemiology for medical students. She has published two articles on the use of logic models. Alan Hinman - Public Health Informatics Inst      Credentials: M.D., M.P.H.      Other Affiliations: Emory University       Dr. Hinman is a Senior Public Health Scientist at the Public Health Informatics Institute, a program of The Task Force for Global Health, a not-for-profit organization affiliated with Emory University. He received his B.A. from Cornell University, M.D. from Western Reserve University, and M.P.H. from Harvard University. Since 1965 he has been involved in public health programs at state, national, and international levels, primarily working with CDC. At CDC he directed the Immunization Division (1988-1988) and the National Center for Prevention Services (1988-2005). In addition, he has worked for the State Health Departments of New York and Tennessee. He retired from the U.S. Public Health Service in July 1996, having attained the rank of Assistant Surgeon General. He is the author or co-author of more than 350 scientific publications and is an Adjunct Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University.   AUTHOR(S): Karen Torghele - Public Health Informatics Inst      Credentials: M.P.H.       BIO: Ms. Torghele is presently the Health Scientist for Programs at the Public Health Informatics Institute, a program of the Taskforce for Global Health in Decatur, Georgia. She formerly worked as an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Branch and at the Reproductive Health Branch. She also helped develop and coordinate The CDC Experience, a one-year fellowship in applied epidemiology for medical students. She has published two articles on the use of logic models.