2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/07/2023 | 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM | Community Collaborations: COACHing to Better Outcomes | DECC 232
Community Collaborations: COACHing to Better Outcomes
Ongoing collaborations between state EHDI programs and community stakeholders are critical in addressing the needs of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) as clinical practice and program expectations evolve. In 2014 the COACH (Coalition of Ohio Audiologists and Children’s Hospitals) initiative was formulated in an effort to improve diagnosis of hearing loss after referral on newborn hearing screening by formulating and proposing a state-wide recommended diagnostic protocol. Over the past 8 years this group has implemented multiple evidence-based guidelines, provided training, and monitored outcomes collectively as a community collaborative working in partnership with the state EHDI program.
The original COACH protocol for infant diagnostics was endorsed by the state EHDI program in 2017 and subsequently the JCIH (2019) Position Statement was released with new evidence and recommendations. In 2022 the collaborative undertook revising the 2017 COACH protocol to be consistent with JCIH (2019). Community audiologists across the state of Ohio were invited to participate and over 20 audiologists from diverse practice settings worked together to evaluate consistency and apply new evidence to the existing protocol. Recommended changes include removing the option for a limited diagnostic assessment, updating guidelines for infants who present with risk factors, and providing more resources regarding counseling and supporting families.
This presentation will provide an overview of steps taken to sustain a community collaborative for almost a decade of quality improvement work in partnership with the state EHDI program. Involving stakeholders from diverse practice settings has enriched the projects taken on by this group and has led to uptake of protocols and resources across the state. Overall, the work of the COACH group can provide a model for other state stakeholders to work together for the common purpose of improved EHDI outcomes.
- Describe the implementation and ongoing monitoring and revision of a statewide, evidenced-based infant diagnostic evaluation protocol.
- Summarize key resources diagnostic audiologists need to facilitate diagnosis and management of pediatric hearing loss.
- Describe how participatory partnerships with your state EHDI program can empower practitioners to improve the EHDI process for children who are D/HH.
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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.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Gina Hounam
(), Nationwide Children's Hospital, gina.hounam@nationwidechildrens.org;
Gina Hounam is the program manager of Audiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Gina received a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science at Ohio State University and received her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Gina has been an audiologist for 15+ years and her professional interests include relationship-centered care, community outreach, UNHS and hearing aids.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Taylor Gilger
(), Family Audiology Associates, gilger@familyaudiology.com;
Taylor Gilger, Au.D. earned her undergraduate degree in speech and hearing sciences from Ohio State University in 2015 and her Doctor of Audiology degree from the Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium in 2020. She completed her doctoral externship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland. Taylor is a new audiologist with 2 years in the profession, though has developed a newborn hearing diagnostic protocol and VEMP protocol for her clinic. She additionally leads the electrophysiology and vestibular programs.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Reena Kothari
(), Ohio Department of Health, Reena.Kothari@odh.ohio.gov;
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.
Sheryl Silver
(), Ohio Department of Health, sheryl.silver@odh.ohio.gov;
Sheryl M. Silver, Ph.D is a Public Health Audiologist and the diagnostic consultant for the State of Ohio Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. Sheryl has over 20 years’ experience with statewide programs that focus on early detection, diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing loss. Before coming to the Ohio Department of Health, she worked as a hospital hearing screener, an audiologist for infants, toddlers and special needs populations, and an early interventionist for families of children with permanent hearing loss. Sheryl has presented on topics related to Ohio’s EHDI program both locally and nationally.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Lisa Hunter
(), Cincinnati Children's Hospital, lisa.hunter@cchmc.org;
Lisa Hunter is Scientific Director of Audiology and Professor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati. She collaborates on a number of funded studies including evaluating physiologic factors associated with risks for hearing loss and understanding mechanisms for improved follow-up with newborn hearing screening in high risk famlies. She is a faculty with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.