From Cynthia Carlin, Idaho EHDI Project Coordinator:
We are assembling an Idaho EHDI team to provide input into targeted quality improvements around the state.
The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) has conducted EHDI learning collaboratives in several states. Every state is expected to participate in a NICHQ learning collaborative as part of their MCH grants. This is Idaho's year!
State team meetings will probably all be conducted via teleconferencing. Information sharing will be via a Sharepoint type site on the NICHQ website. There are also three national workshops which only a core team will attend during the one year project period. Currently we only have three core team members who are able to travel out of state and we could use at least one more for the next meeting.
Each state team (there are 14 others currently participating) is expected to include the EHDI Coordinator, Data Specialist, Follow-up Coordinator, Audiologist and at least one parent as part of the core team. In addition the team is required to include Nurse Managers and representatives from several screening programs,pediatric audiologists, parents, and representatives of early intervention programs serving Deaf and hard of hearing babies.
Additional members may be- physicians-PCPs, care coordinators in physician offices, social workers, ENT, State Title V Representative, and other stakeholders.
One of the first activities of the Initiative is to collect and assemble lots of data. The team members will assist with reviewing the data reports and providing input as to selecting 'small activities or tests of change' that will be implemented in selected sites for short periods of time. After each implementation phase the resulting data will be collected and provided to team members for more review and input.
The hoped for end result will be the identification of quality improvement methods that work in our State.
The largest time involvement on team members' part will consist of reviewing data results (we'll provide the data) and providing input, both through monthly phone meetings and via the NICHQ sharepoint site.
Two attachments are included which give a little more background on NICHQ and this new initiative--"Improving Hearing Screening & Intervention Systems (IHSIS).
