Abstract
ND Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information System (ND EHDI-IS) Program
Minot State University/North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities
Jerusha Olthoff, MSM
500 University Ave West, Minot ND 58707
Phone: 701-858-4360 Fax: 701-858-3483
jerusha.olthoff@minotstateu.edu http://ndcpd.org/ehdi
North Dakota has an Early Hearing Detection and Intervention-Information System (EHDI-IS) capable of collecting unduplicated individual identifiable data on every occurrent birth throughout the three components of the EHDI process (screening, diagnosis, and early intervention). While North Dakota is not mandated for newborn hearing screening/reporting and the state does not appropriate funding for newborn hearing screening, ND EHDI is fortunate to have the cooperation of statewide stakeholders who voluntarily support and promote hearing health as a standard of care. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to: healthcare facilities, outpatient providers including audiologists, early intervention, and family support programs. Collaborative efforts continue to foster and enhance complete hearing care for infants and children in North Dakota (ND).
Using the 2018 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey (HSFS) data submitted by ND EHDI as a baseline, 12,217 infants were birthed in ND; 12,138 infants received a birth hearing screen; 76 infants were documented as diagnosed (23 with a permanent hearing loss and 53 with no hearing loss). Of the 23 infants diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, 18 were reported as receiving Part C EI services with 16 enrolled in Part C EI. Additionally, 3 infants received Non-Part C EI services only. The North Dakota EHDI program continues to see progress with hearing screening, diagnosis, and early intervention; yet, there is a need for continued work with the timeliness of reporting efforts. In 2018, the average number of days between the diagnosis and reporting of a hearing loss was 61.8 days. The delay in reporting impacts the assurance of appropriate and necessary referrals for services.
The ND EHDI-IS project aims to achieve the purpose of “Improving Timely Documentation, Reporting, and Analysis of Diagnostic and Intervention Data through Optimization of EHDI Surveillance Practices and Information Systems”. Collaborative efforts with the ND Department of Health, ND Vital Records Division, ND Health Information Network, ND EHDI-IS vendor, and ND EHDI stakeholders will support the ND EHDI program in accomplishing the following long term outcomes during the award period: 1) Use of timely and complete patient-level data for tracking and informed decision making; 2) Increased number of infants who receive a diagnosis no later than 3 months of age; 3) Increased enrollment in intervention services no later than 6 months of age, for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing. The ND EHDI-IS project will implement these four strategies to achieve the proposed outcomes: 1) Enhance EHDI-IS through system optimization; 2) Engage stakeholders in the tracking and reporting processes and provide technical assistance during the reporting process; 3) Maintain quality of the data and lead strategic actions for continuous program improvement through data analysis and evaluation; and 4) Develop data reports and disseminate information among internal and external stakeholders.