2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 10:05 AM - 10:35 AM | How We Rocked our 1/3/6: Valleywise Hearing Early Assessment Response (HEAR) Quality Improvement Project | City Terrace 11
How We Rocked our 1/3/6: Valleywise Hearing Early Assessment Response (HEAR) Quality Improvement Project
Valleywise Health (VW) is a public safety net healthcare system in Phoenix, Arizona caring for a diverse population including those with barriers to healthcare.
Newborn hearing screening has been performed at VW during birth hospitalization but timely follow up for failure has been below benchmark. To address this, a coalition with representatives from VW and Phoenix Children’s, the local children’s hospital, was created to design and implement a follow-up program with care coordination resources. Care coordination ensured that VW infants failing the hospital newborn screen had timely follow-up, further screening, and diagnostics with Phoenix Children’s Audiology. Care coordination and community partnership were identified as crucial components to improve 1/3/6 guideline compliance for newborns with failed newborn hearing screens.
In 2023, 98% of infants born at VW were screened, and 5% referred . Of those who referred, only 15% had confirmatory diagnostic testing, leaving 85% as lost to follow up (LFU). This is a common challenge with safety net birthing hospitals as they frequently lose access to infants after discharge. Of those that referred and were diagnosed with congenital hearing loss, only 20% were successfully enrolled in early intervention services before 6 months of age.
Our new process was implemented in November 2024. To date, 83% of infants who referred on initial newborn screening were successfully evaluated at Phoenix Children’s before 3 months of age. This is a dramatic improvement in the LFU rate (85% to 17%). No infants have been diagnosed with congenital hearing loss.
This initiative underscores the critical role of care coordination and cross-system collaboration in improving adherence to the 1-3-6 guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention. As the program continues, we aim to demonstrate improved outcomes in timely diagnosis and early intervention enrollment, ultimately reducing disparities and improving long-term outcomes for infants at risk of hearing loss.
- 1. The participant will be able to identify the benefits of community collaboration in meeting 1/3/6 guidelines
- 2. The participant will be able to list two benefits of using data to determine program effectiveness
- 3. The participant will list three benefits of using care coordination to meet 1/3/6 guidelines
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Presenters/Authors
Jodi Carter
(Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, Jodi_Carter@dmgaz.org;
After growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, Jodi P. Carter, MD, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in Washington D. C. She returned to Arizona for medical school and earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. She then completed a pediatric internship and residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Upon completion of residency, Dr. Carter returned to Arizona and worked as a community pediatrician in the greater Phoenix area from 2003-2007. In 2007 Dr. Carter joined the pediatric hospitalist faculty at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and became a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. Dr. Carter remained at Phoenix Children’s Hospital until October 2021. While at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Carter helped to stand up Arizona’s sole pediatric-only clinically integrated network and served as the network’s Chief Medical Officer. She also worked to optimize the coordination of all interacting systems for patients and families within the Phoenix Children’s enterprise as the Chief Clinical Integration Officer. With a passion for whole-person care and trauma-informed care, in early 2018, Dr. Carter led the inception of the Phoenix Children’s Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing – a multidisciplinary program aimed at strengthening the resilience and wellbeing of children who have experienced emotional trauma and chronic stress. Finally, in 2019, Dr. Carter helped to establish a new community-based primary care pediatric service line for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and served as the inaugural Section Chief.
In December 2021, Dr. Carter joined Valleywise Health and District Medical Group as the Pediatric Department Chair. In this role, Dr. Carter is responsible for departmental administration, clinical activities, research, ongoing development of the pediatric medical education programs, and, in partnership with Valleywise and District Medical Group senior leadership, the strategic growth of the pediatric service line and department.
Dr. Carter practices clinically at Valleywise Health as a pediatric hospitalist and ambulatory pediatrician and remains committed to medical education through the Creighton University Medical School in Phoenix, the University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix, and the Phoenix Children’s Residency Program Alliance.
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Angela Ibragimov
(Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, Angela_Ibragimov@dmgaz.org;
Angela Ibragimov, MD, is an attending pediatrician at Valleywise Health Medical Center, where she serves as the Medical Director of the Newborn Nursery. She also holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Creighton University School of Medicine. Dr. Ibragimov earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at the Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Residency Program Alliance. Following a chief residency year, she joined Valleywise Health Medical Center in 2016. She is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to pediatric patients. In addition, Dr. Ibragimov is deeply dedicated to the institution’s academic mission, actively teaching and mentoring a diverse range of learners across multiple levels of training.
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Clinton Metzger
(Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, Clinton_Metzger@dmgaz.org;
Clinton Metzger is an outpatient pediatric attending physician at the Valleywise Comprehensive Health Center in Phoenix, AZ.
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Nathan Page
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Phoenix Children's Hospital, npage@phoenixchildrens.com;
Dr. Page is a physician in the Division of Otolaryngology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He received his MD from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, completed his otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Children's Specialists of San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital. He strongly supports multidisciplinary care for children who have complex health care needs.
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• Receives Other financial benefit for Board membership from Regeneron.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
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Financial relationship with Regeneron.
Nature: Financial.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Kira Russo
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, Kira Russo
Kira Russo is a licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) with a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies: Human Rights and Global Conflict. She is the Manager of Ambulatory Pediatric Care Coordination at Valleywise Health. Her experience has included direct service delivery, as well as mezzo- and macro-level social work. Russo is especially passionate about system coordination and strategic planning to address gaps and improve services for patients.
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Lisa Akey
(Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, lisa.akey@asdb.az.gov;
Dr. Lisa Akey is an Educational Audiologist for Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, where she supports students with hearing loss by ensuring access to appropriate audiological services and technology within the educational environment. Prior to joining ASDB, she spent ten years as a clinical audiologist at Valleywise Health, dedicated to expanding hearing healthcare access in underserved communities. Her experience in both clinical and educational settings gives her a comprehensive perspective on pediatric audiology and the unique needs of children with hearing loss.
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Tim Louis
(Co-Author), Valley Wise Health Medical Center, tlouis@desertcapitalaz.com;
I was born (1963) and raised in Phoenix Arizona. I married Amy Hagan Louis in 1988, and we have four children (21, 26, 29 and 31). I graduated from Northwestern University with a BA and MS in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Amy and I lived in Houston, TX from 1987 to 1995, where I owned and operated a diagnostic audiology private practice. In 1995 we moved to Phoenix and I went back to school at Arizona State University and earned my MBA in finance and financial markets in 1998. I am the President/CEO of Desert Capital Investments (DCI), a private equity investment firm focused on early stage businesses.
I have served on several non-profit boards including A.T. Still University, The Phoenix Art Museum, Thunderbirds Charities and Phoenix Country Day School. I currently serve as a director of Valleywise Health Foundation and The Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy. I’m currently serving as president of the board of Desert Voices (A private non-profit Listening & Spoken Language curriculum school for deaf children), and of the Arizona Cycling Association.
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Wendy Steuerwald
(Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Phoenix Children's Hospital, wsteuerwald@phoenixchildrens.com;
Wendy Steuerwald, AuD, is the Director of Audiology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She works with hospital leadership and audiologists to create an environment where exceptional patient care is the norm. This includes use of evidence based practice, process improvement initiatives, expansion of services offered, the addition of new locations, and hiring the best audiologists. Wendy’s overall focus is to improve the patient’s experience within audiology while providing evidence based care. Professional leadership includes committee work with the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech Language Hearing Association, and multiple state organizations. Wendy also has numerous presentations and publications. Local committee work includes participation in the interdisciplinary Stop CMV AZ partnership.
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• Receives Salary for Employment from Phoenix Children's Hospital.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Financial relationship with Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Nature: financial.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.