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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Chia-Ling Liu, RN, MPH, MS1, Erin L. DeWaard, MPH1, Janet M. Farrell, BA1, Sarah Stone, BA1, Nancy Wilber, EdD1, and Deborah Allen, ScD2. (1) Bureau of Family and Community Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5014, Penny.Liu@state.ma.us, (2) Division of Special Healthcare Needs, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 4th fl, 250 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
Massachusetts has developed one of the leading hearing screening programs in the nation. This report will present the steps undertaken by the Massachusetts Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (UNHSP) to ensure the success of the program, and address challenges entailed in minimizing the average time between identification of hearing loss and initiation of services. Strategies adopted by the UNHSP to ensure program success included passage of a comprehensive newborn hearing screening law, establishment of an advisory committee, amending hospital and birth center licensure regulations, development of program guidelines for birth facilities and diagnostic centers, and initiation of a statewide tracking and surveillance system. According to aggregate data compiled by the birth facility screening programs, 98% of infants were screened whereas preliminary analysis of the EBC indicates that approximately 90% of the more than 45,000 infants born in Massachusetts between July 2001 and January 2002 were screened. This discrepancy suggests that increasing communication and providing technical assistance to program staff at the birth facilities will help to improve both the timeliness and accuracy of EBC data entry and reporting. Ongoing data monitoring and assessment is presently underway. Massachusetts has clearly demonstrated the feasibility of achieving universal newborn hearing screening. Echoing objectives of Healthy People 2010, the UNHSP dedicated efforts of MDPH to families of children with hearing loss through collaborations with parents, health professionals, institutions and other state agencies which greatly contributed to the program success.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employer