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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Use of Text Reminders to Reduce Newborn Hearing Screening Loss to Follow-Up Rates' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): loss-to-follow-up, screening, technology Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to implement a texting protocol to the newborn hearing screening follow-up process in their respective states. Abstract: Timely follow-up effort is key to loss to follow-up in newborn hearing screening programs. However, contacting young parents by phone can be challenging. Because 95 percent of 18-29 year-old Americans use text messaging and receive an average of 87.7 text messages per day (Pew Research Center, 2011), a more effective way to contact young parents may be through text messaging. This presentation describes a quality improvement PDSA project in Utah to improve LTFU rates by introducing a texting protocol for follow-up efforts. The protocol was implemented in several hospitals for all babies born in a 2-month period who did not pass the inpatient newborn hearing screen. Texts were sent via a commercially-available HIPAA-compliant, internet-based application. The protocol included one 24-hour reminder text and two missed-appointment reminders from the hospital. If a parent did not respond to the hospital’s texts within two weeks, two additional texts were sent from the state. The LTFU rate for the two-month PDSA period was calculated and compared to previous LTFU rates. The PDSA process and results will be reported. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available CART: CART Transcription is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Karyn Storey - Primary Presenter,POC National Center for Hearing Assessment Management      Credentials: Audiology Graduate Student      Other Affiliations: Utah State University       Karyn Storey is a graduate assistant who was hired to improve loss to follow up rates in Utah through strategic, focused follow up effort.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Stephanie Browning McVicar - Co-Presenter Utah Department of Health      Credentials: Au.D., CCC-A       Dr. McVicar is the Director of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program, the Children’s Hearing Aid Program, and the Cytomegalovirus Public Health Initiative in Utah. She is Program Manager in the Utah Department of Health's Children with Special Health Care Needs Bureau in Salt Lake City. She is the Audiology Core Faculty member and Director of the Infant-Pediatric Audiology Program for the URLEND (Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Program, training future leaders in transdisciplinary family-centered care of children and adolescents with special healthcare needs. Clinically, Dr. McVicar is a pediatric audiologist. She is originally from Western New York and has over two decades of experience and knowledge in Audiology and the management of health care programs in both the public and private sectors. Dr. McVicar serves on the Board of Ethics in Audiology for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Krysta Badger - Co-Presenter Utah Department of Health      Credentials: Data Manager, Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Utah Department of Health       Krysta Badger is the Data Manager for the Newborn Hearing Screening Program at the Utah Department of Health. She has also worked as the LTFU Coordinator at the Utah Department of Health.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Karl White - Co-Presenter Utah State University      Credentials: PhD       Dr. White is a Professor of Psychology, the Emma Eccles Jones Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education, and the founding Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. He has been the PI or Co-PI for over $50 million of competitively awarded research. His work has been recognized with awards from such diverse organizations as the Deafness Research Foundation, the American Association for Speech Language and Hearing, The Swedish Society of Medicine, and the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf. He has hundreds of publications and presentations at scholarly meetings, and has been an invited speaker to more than 35 countries. He also serves on many national and international advisory groups for organizations such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.