Quality Improvement in State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Programs: Small Changes that Make a Big Difference

Since April 2006, the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has provided support for all state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs in their implementation of quality improvement (QI) principles in an effort to reduce loss to follow-up in newborn hearing screening programs. The essence of QI is to use an iterative process to make system improvements.

Although QI has been encouraged by MCHB for several years, many states still struggle with its application. The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) is assisting EHDI programs in their implementation of QI principles by assessing each state’s knowledge of QI and providing ongoing technical assistance (TA) that matches the need of each state.

Participants in this session will learn how incorporate “health in all policies” by learning how three states were able to turn MCH QI policies into ambitious yet achievable improvements in their EHDI programs. Specifically, case studies will be presented on how QI TA has provided direction for three different state EHDI programs. Case Study One will cover concrete strategies a state tested to increase newborn hearing screening and reduce loss to follow up for out of hospital births by working with one midwifery center. Case Study Two will focus on a state’s efforts that involved texting parents reminding them of their baby’s appointment for a hearing rescreen. Case Study Three will cover strategies a state is testing to improve communication with its largest hospital with audiology services about babies who are seen for diagnostic services.