2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

3/04/2021 | 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM | Crash and Catch-up: Follow-up Protocols in Response to Covid-19. | Topical Breakout

Crash and Catch-up: Follow-up Protocols in Response to Covid-19.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, employees urgently pivoted practice patterns to align with varying models of public health orders. In many states, this pivot included restrictions on outpatient care appointments. Restrictions asked healthcare providers to decide what was considered essential vs non-essential. Many were unprepared to answer the question of who and what was essential, including audiology professionals. Ohio had varying responses across the state, with some infant diagnostic locations remaining open, some closing and some operating but with restrictions. The “shut-down” has likely impacted the timeliness of service delivery within Ohio EHDI’s program. To respond to the healthcare crisis, audiologists from differing diagnostic locations across the state joined EHDI staff to develop urgent guidelines. These guidelines were drafted to help support an anticipated surge in infant diagnostic appointments when outpatient clinics were able to resume care. Guidelines were drafted using an evidenced-based approach aligned with real-time anecdotal scenarios shared by audiologists. A survey assessing the status of diagnostic locations was also created and sent to all diagnostic sites in an effort to balance surge and ensure timely access to essential care. Data including screening, diagnostic follow-up and confirmation of HL rates reveals the story of how this pandemic has impacted children with hearing loss in Ohio and the recovery that occurred after re-opening. Presenters will share a comparison of a “typical” year versus the pandemic year in terms of data trends along with tips on how to initiate this process within any state program. Ohio’s efforts demonstrate partnership opportunities between audiologists and their state EHDI program to improve outcomes through collective clinical support and data tracking . Ongoing monitoring and collaboration will ensure timely access to essential care during future healthcare or staffing crises .

1. Review how COVID-19 impacted screening, diagnostic testing and confirmation of HL in Ohio.
2. Discuss steps taken by EHDI and audiologists across the state to build emergency guidelines meant to support scheduling and access of infant diagnostics.
3. Evaluate the current status within Ohio as well as obstacles to success and plans for the ongoing downstream impact.

Presentation:
23278_13641UrsulaFindlen.pdf

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference

Presenters/Authors

Ursula Findlen (), Nationwide Children's Hospital, ursula.findlen@nationwidechildrens.org;
Ursula M. Findlen, Ph.D., is the Director of Audiology Research in the Division of Clinical Therapies- Audiology Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor-Clinical at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Findlen engages in clinical practice and research endeavors related to pediatric (re)habilitative audiology, particularly in regards to a multidisciplinary team approach to family-centered care. Her research interests include infant diagnostics and improving outcomes of children with hearing loss through systematic quality improvement and population health endeavors.