EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021
(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)
Improving Newborn Hearing Screening Through Collaboration and Communication
Purpose: Hearing loss is the number one birth defect among children. There are significant consequences of delayed diagnosis and failure to obtain timely intervention including communication impairment and negative socioeconomic effects. Development and implementation of successful newborn hearing screening (NHS) programs can be challenging. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate improved efficiency and effectiveness of a large NHS program through the implementation of a team approach engaging both ambulatory and hospital service.
Methods: Over the course of a year, hospital leadership and specialists developed a new NHS program that would focus on improving patient care. Using a SWOT analysis, strengths and weakness of the program were identified. It was determined that to improve outcomes several key factors would be implemented including dedicated technicians solely assigned to the NHS program and purchase of new equipment to improve accuracy and reduce disposable costs. In addition, a two-tiered approach was implemented whereby the dedicated technician would perform performs the initial screening, with a rescreen performed by an audiologist.
Conclusions: Implementation of the new NHS program demonstrated numerous successes including a significant reduction in the failure rate, improved care coordination and increased communication between ambulatory and hospital services.
?
- Participants will learn about an innovative approach to newborn hearing screening.
- Participants will be able to identify ways to improve their newborn hearing screening program.
- Participants will be able to identify opportuntiies for improved collaboration and communicaiton as related to newborn hearing screening.
Poster:
23278_13478JenniferShinn.pdf
Presenter: Jennifer Shinn
Jennifer Shinn, Ph.D. is the Chief of Audiology, Associate Professor and Director of Newborn Hearing in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Kentucky.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.