2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Creating a Culture of Knowledge: Developing Relationships Between EHDI and Pediatric Medical Providers to Ensure Comprehensive CMV Care. | 308
Creating a Culture of Knowledge: Developing Relationships Between EHDI and Pediatric Medical Providers to Ensure Comprehensive CMV Care.
Beginning January 1, 2023, Florida began targeted congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening for infants who do not pass the newborn hearing screen. In 2024, legislation expanded requirements for cCMV screening to include newborns with prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays. The Florida Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program is responsible for oversight of cCMV screening and follow-up for positive newborns.
Since implementation began, 194 newborns have screened positive for cCMV and received follow-up. Florida EHDI cCMV specialists will describe the internal systems and training required to ensure 110 birthing hospitals, 5,500 pediatric primary care providers, 350 audiologists, and infectious disease providers have access to the tools and information to meet the needs of infants diagnosed with cCMV.
- Participants will be able to identify workflow procedures to help ensure all eligible newborns receive a cCMV screen.
- Participants will be able to discuss key content and methods for provider training to support results reporting and critical follow-up care for positive infants.
- Participants will be able to describe strategies to develop and maintain relationships between EHDI and medical providers to create a statewide culture of knowledge about cCMV screening, diagnosis, and follow-up.
Presentation:
3545975_18250MirandaNerland.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Natasha Rich
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), FL Dept of Health, Natasha.Rich@FLHealth.gov;
Natasha Rich is a parent of a child with Microtia and Atresia and conductive hearing loss. She is a strong advocate for families. Ms. Rich provides parent-to-parent support and referrals to families of children with hearing differences and, as of January 2023, conducts follow-up for newborns diagnosed with CMV. Ms. Rich has 24 years’ experience providing early intervention services.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Promise Santos
(Co-Presenter), Florida Department of Health, Promise.Santos@flhealth.gov;
Promise Santos is the cCMV Screening Resource Coordinator for the State of Florida. She provides technical assistance to training to hospital staff in Florida.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Miranda Nerland
(Co-Presenter), FL Dept of Health, Miranda.Nerland@flhealth.gov;
Miranda Nerland is the parent of a child with CHARGE syndrome and bilateral mixed hearing loss. Ms. Nerland provides parent-to-parent support and referrals to families of children with hearing differences and deafblindness and, as of January 2023, conducts follow-up for newborns diagnosed with CMV. Ms. Nerland also serves as the program lead for Florida's Children's Hearing Aid Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.