EHDI Information Management Systems: A Tool For Follow-up Les R. Schmeltz, Au.D. NCHAM.

EHDI Information EHDI Information Management Systems: A Management Systems: A

Tool For Follow-upTool For Follow-up

Les R. Schmeltz, Au.D.Les R. Schmeltz, Au.D.

NCHAMNCHAM

What is an IMS?What is an IMS?

• Information Management System

• Describes the process and procedures used to manage the data generated in your EHDI program

• May be computerized, may be just pencil and paper

• EVERY program has an IMS of some sort!

What is Follow-Up?What is Follow-Up?

• Timely screen, rescreen

• Prompt diagnosis

• Amplification ASAP

• Enroll in early intervention

• 1-3-6 timelines

When can babies be When can babies be lost to follow-up?lost to follow-up?

• Before screening/rescreening

• After screening/rescreening

• Before diagnosis

• After diagnosis

• Before amplification

• After amplification

• Before early intervention

How can your IMS help reduce How can your IMS help reduce the number of babies not the number of babies not

passing the hearing screen prior passing the hearing screen prior to discharge from the hospital?to discharge from the hospital?

Don’t MISS Babies!Don’t MISS Babies!

• Record every birth• Document status• Up to the minute

information• Someone in charge!• Don’t let them out

without screening!!!!!

How does your IMS help get How does your IMS help get babies from initial screening babies from initial screening

through diagnostic evaluations?through diagnostic evaluations?

How does your IMS keep you How does your IMS keep you from losing contact with families from losing contact with families

during the diagnostic-during the diagnostic-amplification-early intervention amplification-early intervention

process?process?

How does your IMS help to How does your IMS help to reduce the delay between reduce the delay between

screening and enrollment in screening and enrollment in early intervention?early intervention?

How can all the relevant players How can all the relevant players be involved in your IMS?be involved in your IMS?(Consider the need for (Consider the need for confidentiality and time confidentiality and time

constraints of 1-3-6)constraints of 1-3-6)

What do you feel is the What do you feel is the “weakest link” in your IMS?“weakest link” in your IMS?

How could your IMS provide How could your IMS provide you with more timely, more you with more timely, more complete or more relevant complete or more relevant information to aid in your information to aid in your

follow-up efforts?follow-up efforts?

Your IMS “Personality”Your IMS “Personality”

• Characteristics:– Someone in charge– Someone who cares– Tenacious– Persistent to a fault– In your face– Handholding– Seamless

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

SOMEONE IN SOMEONE IN CHARGECHARGE

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

Someone who Someone who CARES!CARES!

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

TenaciousTenacious

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

Persistent to a Persistent to a fault!fault!

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

In your face!In your face!

Characteristics of systems:Characteristics of systems:

Hand holding!Hand holding!

Characteristics of Systems:Characteristics of Systems:

SEAMLESSSEAMLESS

If you could modify your If you could modify your program’s procedures to reduce program’s procedures to reduce the lost to follow-up rate—what the lost to follow-up rate—what

would you change? would you change?