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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Working with audiologists to reduce lost to follow-up and lost to documentation quality improvement strategies from state EHDI programs ' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): lost to follow-up, lost to documentation, quality improvement Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to identify specific activities and strategies that can be used by state EHDI programs and audiologists to reduce loss to follow up/lost to documentation Participants will describe how quality improvement methods can enhance state EHDI programs. Abstract: Background Since 2005, the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality, in collaboration with the Maternal Child Health Bureau and National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, has implemented four learning collaboratives to improve state EHDI program’s progress towards the 1-3-6 goals, reducing loss to follow-up, and strengthening systems and relationships between stakeholders. Methods During the 2011-2012 Collaborative, Improving Hearing Screening & Intervention Systems, 14 state teams used quality improvement methodology, tested ideas on a small scale, and implemented successful ideas on a broader scale. Results Teams were successful in improving processes and reporting of diagnostic audiology results to state EHDI programs, reducing loss-to-follow-up and loss-to-documentation. Teams collected data to understand the impact of their changes on their systems. Three collaborative teams will present specific strategies with broad potential for applicability that were successful in their states. Idaho implemented a strategy for diagnostic audiology centers to report diagnostic information to the state program within 5 days of the child’s appointment. This strategy resulted in 85% of reports being sent to state within 5 days, and 14 centers achieving 100% compliance. Another strategy was enhancing state reporting systems communication with providers for improved compliance from audiology settings. The South Carolina state EHDI program emailed diagnostic audiology clinics with information/report cards about individual lost to follow-up rates from the clinics. This resulted in a reduction of children who were not reported to the state from a baseline of 510 to 142 children post-intervention during the 2011 data collection period. Ohio will describe the use of reminder cards within audiology clinical rooms to reinforce reporting of results to state EHDI programs. Reminder cards within audiology settings increased their reporting compliance to 95%. Conclusions Strategies focusing on developing strong relationships with audiology clinics can improve reporting of diagnostic testing and therefore reduce loss-to-follow-up rates. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Cynthia Carlin - Co-Presenter Idaho EHDI program      Credentials: BS, EHDI program coordinator       Cynthia has worked with the Idaho Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program since arriving in Boise in 2001. She has been the Program Coordinator for Idaho Sound Beginnings since 2005. In addition to grant writing she organizes trainings, supports screening sites, develops and maintains relationships with stakeholders including the Part C Program, the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, WIC, and audiologists, oversees program data and the data system, identifies target populations, and whatever else is required at any given time. She graduated with a degree in Biology and Life Science, and later added a secondary education certification which proved to be a good background for the development of outreach materials, trainings, work plans, and presentations. She has personal experience with special needs children and a beautiful premature medically fragile granddaughter who first introduced her into the world of Early Intervention.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Susan Wiley - POC,Co-Presenter,Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Professor       Dr. Susan Wiley is a developmental pediatrician with expertise in children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She has many years of experience serving children with multiple disabilities.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Andrea Amestoy - Co-Presenter Idaho Sound Beginnings      Credentials: Registered Nurse, Idaho Sound Beginnings Parent Outreach Consultant       Andrea has worked as a pediatric and NICU registered nurse and currently teaches birth and parenting classes. In addition, she has worked for the school district as a teacher/registered nurse in the Health Professions Program. She graduated cum Laude in 2000 with a BS in Health Science and an AS in nursing. Andrea has been the parent outreach consultant for Idaho Sound Beginnings for the past 7 years. She began soon after her second child was diagnosed with hearing loss at 4 weeks of age. She assists the program with the development of educational materials, offering the dual perspectives of a parent and a medical professional. Andrea is the parent of 3 children, 2 diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type IIc. She is currently working on her Master's in Special Education with a teaching certificate to become a TVI (teacher of the visually impaired) through Texas Tech University.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Meghan Guinnee - POC,Co-Presenter,Author NICHQ      Credentials: PhD       Meghan is a Project Director with NICHQ (National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality). She has served as Project Director on a number of Collaboratives aiming to improve access to quality healthcare and education for young children. She is the Project Director for the NICHQ/HRSA newborn hearing Collaboratives (Improving Hearing Screening and Intervention Systems Collaboratives), which work with state EHDI systems to improve follow-up and access to services for young children with hearing loss.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Tara Carroll - Co-Presenter SC Department of Health and Environmental Control      Credentials: MCD, CCC/A       Tara Carroll received a BA in Communication Disorders with a minor is Psychology from LSU in Baton Rouge in 1993 and a Master of Communication Disorders in Audiology from LSUMC in New Orleans in 1995. She worked as a clinical audiologist for 10 years in a variety of settings to include non-profit centers and an ENT office prior to taking the role of EHDI Director for South Carolina. She has served as the EHDI Director and State Audiology Consultant for the past 10 years. She also is active in her SCAA chapter currently serving as Secretary/Treasurer serves on the Board of Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA). She has previously served on the Board of the SC AG Bell chapter.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Reena Kothari - Co-Presenter Ohio Department of Health      Credentials: Au.D., F-AAA       Reena Kothari, Au.D. is currently a Public Health Audiology Consultant for The Ohio Department of Health in the Infant Hearing Program and the newborn hearing screening contact. Reena has spoken both nationally and statewide about Ohio’s EHDI program. She has developed many public awareness materials in several formats for the Ohio Department of Health’s Infant Hearing Program. Reena was the team lead for the National Initiative on Children’s Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) and is a member of several committees in Ohio. Her previous experience includes newborn hearing screening, clinical and dispensing services for adults and pediatrics. Reena has a strong background in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) and is interested in continuous quality improvement for successful outcomes for children identified with hearing loss and deafness.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.