EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021
(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)
3/14/2022 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Pilot of remote auditory brainstem testing between a diagnostic center and a birth hospital | Room 1
Pilot of remote auditory brainstem testing between a diagnostic center and a birth hospital
In 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health was awarded a grant from the AMCHP to demonstrate the feasibility of remote diagnostic ABR testing as a way to reduce loss-to-follow-up following newborn hearing screening in a rural Massachusetts community. Using a hub-and-spoke model, a partnership was established between Boston Children's Hospital (the diagnostic hub) and Cape Cod Hospital (the rural spoke). Appropriate personnel were identified at both locations to facilitate the remote testing. After technological issues were addressed, pilot infants who referred newborn hearing screening were enrolled for remote diagnostic ABR testing. We were able to successfully perform testing on these infants. Following the pilot, discussions between Boston Children's and Cape Cod Healthcare began with the aim of keeping this service available. Various administrative aspects of remote care, such as billing, payor contracts, and patient ownership, continue to be discussed in order to find a satisfactory way to maintain this service. Our experience may inform other clinics and EHDI programs on the potential benefits and barriers of remote diagnostic testing in their states.
- Participants will itemize equipment and team-members needed to perform remote ABR services
- Participants will describe the potential issues related to telehealth coverage for ABR services
- Participants will contrast the effectiveness of a remote diagnostic ABR to an in-person ABR
Presentation:
3353554_14999DerekStiles.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Derek Stiles
(Virtual), Boston Children's Hospital, derek.stiles@childrens.harvard.edu;
Derek Stiles has been Director of Audiology at Boston Children's Hospital since 2014, and Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement since 2021. He leads a team of 30 audiologists, serving 20,000 patients a year across 6 clinical sites in Eastern Massachusetts. He also oversees the directors of the SLP, Feeding & Swallowing, Augmentative Communication, Autism Language, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, and Balance Programs at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Briana Dornan Nichols
(), Boston Children's Hospital, briana.dornan@childrens.harvard.edu;
Briana Dornan Nichols is a Site Manager for Audiology Services at Boston Children's Hospital in Weymouth and North Dartmouth. Her research has focused on electrophysiology, permanent conductive hearing loss, and resolving sensorineural hearing loss.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Sarah Stone
(Virtual), MA Dept. of Public Health, sarah.stone@state.ma.us;
Sarah Stone is the Director of the Massachusetts Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program. She has a hearing loss and has been with the program for over 20 years. She has developed programming for families, including social and educational events. She is a member of the state's Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Tamar Gomes
(InPerson), Boston Children's Hospital, tamar.gomes@childrens.harvard.edu;
Tamar Gomes, Au.D. is the Specialty Audiologist in Electrophysiology at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). She provides diagnostic and amplification audiology services for pediatric patients and focuses on current trends in electrophysiology. She is involved in audiology documentation software development, healthcare data management and informatics. She trains and supports students and staff in electrophysiology and documentation.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -