2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
4/14/2014 | 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Using Quality Improvement Methodologies to Engage Medical Specialty Providers in EHDI Programs | Daytona | 9
Using Quality Improvement Methodologies to Engage Medical Specialty Providers in EHDI Programs
Delays in prompt hearing healthcare services are worsened by a shortage of pediatric audiology specialty services (audiologists, pediatric ENT/ORL)(White, 2003) especially in rural and underserved areas. Solutions to eliminate loss to follow-up and provide necessary services/resources can best be accomplished through a medical home(MH) strongly linked with specialty care services. We created an Iowa EHDI Toolkit to disseminate information, enhance communication and the exchange of information between providers. Iowa EHDI uses the Model for Improvement(MFI) methodology to guide our quality improvement work. The MFI includes three fundamental questions; 1. What are we trying to accomplish? 2. How will we know that a change is an Improvement? 3.What changes can we make that will result in an improvement? The second component of the model is the Plan-Do-Study-Act(PDSA) Cycle, the action part of the model and framework for learning; where you turn ideas into action and connect actions to learning.
This presentation will focus on work to engage, educate, and train MH and community providers on the importance of EI and family support to ensure babies with a hearing loss are identified early and provided with timely/appropriate audiological, educational, medical intervention and family support resources. We’ll share our use of the MFI/PDSA cycles in small test of change to create, distribute and evaluate the toolkit. Toolkit contents include; a letter from our AAP Chapter Champion and our GBYS Program Coordinator, posters for hanging in office areas, Iowa Loss & Found Video, EI and GBYS brochures, AAP materials, a lanyard imprinted with “Can our babies hear?” and the Iowa EHDI phone number, and a flash drive with links to important state and national information that stakeholders need to know. The toolkit was distributed in March of 2013; mailed to 605 Primary Care Providers; 112 physical addresses, covering 77% of all Iowa births.
- 1. Demonstrate the use of quality improvement methodologies in improving engagement of medical specialty providers in the follow-up of infants suspected of a hearing loss
- 2. Describe the attributes of the Model for Improvement and the Plan-Do-Study-Act process as it relates to Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNBHS) and the public health role in assuring access to timely follow-up for infants suspected of a hearing loss
- 3. Analyze toolkit survey feedback to evaluate effectiveness of toolkit that was provided
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Vicki Hunting
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), UI Center for Child Health Improvement and Innovation, vicki-hunting@uiowa.edu;
Vicki Hunting, B.A. is an Improvement Advisor/Project Director for University of Iowa (UI), Center for Child Health Improvement and Innovation. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1981 in Recreation, Program/Administration. Vicki is responsible for the Iowa HRSA/MCHB Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) program federal grant and mentoring UI resources on the Model for Improvement to test, implement/spread changes, data collection, develop and interpret run charts, use of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to test changes. She participated as Parent Partner, Data Coordinator and Project Leader on the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), Newborn Hearing Screening Collaborative. She is an Iowa Health System certified Quality Improvement Advisor and is a board member of Iowa Hands & Voices, a parent support organization for families who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing and is the parent of a young adult with a profound hearing loss
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -
Tammy O'Hollearn
(Co-Presenter), Iowa Department of Public Health, tammy.ohollearn@idph.iowa.gov;
Tammy O'Hollearn has been the EHDI Director for Iowa for the last 15 years. She has worked at the Iowa Department of Public Health since 2001. Ms. O’Hollearn provides administrative oversight, budget management, oversees surveillance of the newborn hearing screening and follow-up data base, as well facilitates the day-to-day management of activities to meet program goals. Ms. O’Hollearn works with many stakeholders in the community that assists Iowa EHDI in meeting program goals and strengthen the system of care for Deaf or hard-of-hearing infants. She directs data design, collection, program analyses and evaluation of the EHDI SOC. She serves on many state and national committees and facilitates the Iowa EHDI Advisory Committee. Tammy received a Link Associates Dorothy Schwartz Award in 1993 and ISHA Outstanding Service Award in 2009 and in 2016, the Iowa EHDI program received the EHDI Website of the Year Award.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -