2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
2/28/2017 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Improving Data Quality for Newborn Hearing Screening - A Retrospective Study of 1 Million Newborns | Hanover F
Improving Data Quality for Newborn Hearing Screening - A Retrospective Study of 1 Million Newborns
The project addresses EHDI quality across the continuum of care in a retrospective sample of 1,000,000 newborns from 3 EHDI jurisdictions (TX, MD ND). Its goal is to improve frequency and quality of newborn hearing screening (NHS) and follow-up data reported, and distinguish and mitigate loss to follow up (LTF) and loss to documentation (LTD) factors. The need is clear with 95% screened, 2% referred, and 40-50% lost to follow up; analyzing large databases is an optimal approach for honing processes across health and early childhood agencies with program responsibilities. Too many newborns following NHS failure are not confirmed as recipients of pediatric hearing health care. To improve connection for children and families, our quality improvement (QI) project will calculate measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF 1354,1357 and 1360) available in participating states' EHDI surveillance and tracking information systems (IS) provided by OZ Systems. The project will examine each measure for functionality, reliability and validity. Detected challenges to validity and reliability will be delineated and reported.
NQF1354 calculates newborns screened before hospital discharge and will serve as a baseline. NQF1360 addresses the proportion of newborns that did not pass all screenings, but reportedly received an audiology evaluation before 3 months of age, the consensus-derived, evidence-based best practice timeframe. NQF1361 addresses the proportion of newborns that have been confirmed as deaf or hard of hearing and their enrollment into Part C services based on a complete and executed IFSP plan by 6 months of age.
- Define NQF measures 1354, 1360 and 1350
- Explain challenges with measure definitions.
- Identify challenges with validity and reliability for each measure
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Presenters/Authors
Mary Catherine Hess
(), OZ Systems, mhess@oz-systems.com;
Mary Catherine Hess has worked with EHDI programs since 2002. Most recently she worked for OZ Systems as an Account Manager for the Texas EHDI Program and the USVI EHDI Program. Prior to that, she was the Program Administrator for Rhode Island’s EHDI Program from 2001-2008 and co-chair of the CDC EHDI Data Committee from 2007-2008. She has presented at local, regional and national EHDI events on topics related to newborn hearing screening, data management and data reporting, and most recently standards-based messaging for EHDI programs.
She achieved her MA in Linguistics from Gallaudet University and holds a BS in Communication Disorders. She is a certified ASL/English interpreter. Her interests include communication access issues in health care settings, assistive technology and long-term outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children identified through the EHDI process. She is a yogi, pug lover and fan of NPR and folk music.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Terese Finitzo
(), OZ systems, tfinitzo@oz-systems.com;
Dr. Finitzo has grown OZ Systems from a small Texas-based newborn hearing health information services provider to a leading innovator whose newborn information management platforms are used in hospitals and public health agencies across the globe. Under her leadership, OZ has continued to develop new information technology solutions that benefit patients and those who care for them — helping ensure timely care and intervention for more than 14 million babies across the United States alone.
Neither did she nor will she stop in Texas. Dr. Finitzo's background as a clinical audiologist spurred her advocacy leadership as well. She has been instrumental in crafting model legislation that has helped several states pass their own newborn hearing screening bills, making sure every newborn is tested for early hearing loss. In 1999, her experience at the AHRQ provided her with an invaluable perspective on the importance of using data for program efficacy and accountability. Dr. Finitzo's timely program experience with more than 100,000 Texas babies helped persuade skeptical legislators in 1999 that universal newborn screening should be funded and implemented in Texas.
As the elected chair of the JCIH during the development of its seminal 2000 Position Statement, Dr. Finitzo helped introduce the concept of Benchmarks and Quality Indicators as measurement tools for public health and hospital assessment and improvement.
A champion of data interoperability, Dr. Finitzo has led her team in advising the top policy committees in the U.S. on messaging and quality standards for providers and public health agencies.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -