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\nPediatrics has published a new study: \u201cImproving Newborn Screening Follow-up in Pediatric Practices: Quality Improvement Innovation Network.\u201d You can read the article\u2019s abstract here. See below for a summary of the findings from this article. \n
\nA 6-month quality improvement project in 15 primary care pediatric practices enhanced short-term newborn screening follow-up. The project included assessment of screening results, documentation of results, and communicating results to families.
\nWhat is newborn screening?
Soon after birth, all babies born in the United States are checked for certain medical conditions. This process is called newborn screening. All babies are screened, even if they look healthy, because some medical conditions cannot be seen by just looking at the baby. Finding these conditions soon after birth can help prevent some serious problems, such as brain damage, organ damage, and even death.
Each state runs its own newborn screening program. All states require screening for at least 26 conditions, including screening for hearing loss. Screening for critical congenital heart defects has started in some state programs and in individual hospitals in states where this screening is not yet required.
Why is this study important?
Primary care providers for children play a central role in the process of newborn screening. Providers make sure that testing is completed or parents have explicitly opted out of screening. Providers also check that results are obtained in a timely manner. Providers make sure that babies who fail newborn screening are followed up. Follow-up can include additional testing or starting treatment. Despite the key role of these providers in follow-up, a survey of primary care pediatricians revealed that 28% did not actively seek results of newborn screening for their patients and presumed that \u201cno news is good news\u201d.
This study described a 6-month quality improvement project in 15 primary care pediatric practices that was started to improve short-term newborn screening follow-up. At the start of the project, each practice completed a survey to evaluate office systems related to newborn screening. Medical charts were reviewed at the beginning of the project and over 6 months to track changes in care processes. Practices were given information about newborn screening and trained in quality-improvement methods. Practices introduced changes to improve care. The overall goal of this project was to improve short-term newborn screening follow-up care through the use of web-based decision support tools called ACTion sheets, which guide providers through steps to take after a baby fails a newborn screen.
Hinton CF, Neuspiel DR, Gubernick RS, Geleske T, Healy J, Kemper AR, Lloyd-Puryear MA, Saul RA, Thompson BH, Kaye CI. 2012. Improving Newborn Screening Follow-up in Pediatric Practices: Quality Improvement Innovation Network. Pediatrics. 130: e1-e7.
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