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Neonatology Associates, Ltd.
Hearing Screening Program
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Patty
Shappell,
Au.D.CCC-A
Hearing
Screening
Program
Director
Neonatology
Associates,
Ltd.
Email:
pshappell
(at)
nalweb
(dot)
com
Mobile:
602
549-8410 |
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Program
Coverage |
Early
detection of
hearing
impairment
significantly
increases an
infant's
chance of
early
treatment
and normal
development.
NAL has
successfully
established
screening
programs
that provide
the best
avenue of
identification
and
follow-up of
hearing
loss. The
NAL hearing
screening
program is
cost
effective to
hospitals
and frees up
precious
nursing
time. We
provide all
aspects of
the program:
staff,
screening
equipment
and
supplies,
follow-up,
and
tracking.
Each newborn
will be
screened
prior to
discharge.
Screening
will be
provided for
all
well-baby
and NICU
babies.
Screening
will be done
at an
optimal time
in order to
provide the
most
accurate
test
results.
Screening
results will
be
documented
in the
medical
record and
on the
baby's
immunization
record.
Parents will
be sent home
with the
results of
the screen
adn an
educational
brochure
regarding
the
screening
program and
the
importance
of
monitoring
speech,
language,
and hearing
developmental
milestones.
While we
believe that
this is a
service that
should be
utilized by
all
patients, we
understand
the parent's
right to
refuse the
screening.
All patients
opting not
to have
their infant
screened
will be
asked to
sign a
waiver. If
the waiver
is
requested,
the baby's
pediatrician
will be
notified
that the
screen was
not
completed in
the
hospital. |
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| Follow-up: |
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Follow-up is the
most challenging
element of a newborn
hearing screening
program. The
NAL program excels
in getting babies
from an inpatient
refer to outpatient
follow-up by one
month of age as
recommended by the
Joint Committee on
Infant Hearing,
Pediatrics, 2007
Position Statement.
Infants who refer
(do not pass) the
initial inpatient
hearing screening
will be scheduled
for a follow-up
screening within 2
to 4 weeks of birth
as recommended by
the state newborn
hearing screening
guideline. NAL
contacts the
families of infants
that refer by phone
and/or letter.
NAL has established
protocols to ensure
that all infants
have an opportunity
for repeat screening
either by NAL or by
another provider
based on insurance
requirements.
Timely follow-up is
done not only to
ensure the earliest
detection, but to
also alleviate
parental concerns.
Babies not passing
the ourpatient
screening will be
referred to their
primary care
physician, or an
audiology program as
directed by the
primary care
physician/insurance
for diagnostic
hearing evaluation
and /or medical
follow-up.
Parents will be
counseled regarding
the need for
diagnostic follow-up
and will be provided
with guidance in
obtaining diagnostic
services. |
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Quality Assurance: |
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NAL has processes in
place to ensure the
highest quality
screening program.
Data will be
collected on a daily
basis and reviewed
regularly to enable
us to evaluate the
program. We
will be examining
data for: |
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Assurance that all babies are being screened. We will be comparing our numbers with the numbers of hospital births.
Follow-up on all false-positives and true-positives to ensure that these babies are re-tested for appropriate follow-up.
Accuracy and efficiency of our screeners. |
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Our Team: |
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NAL will
provide a
dedicated
team
including
Audiologists,
Program
Coordinators
and Hearing
Screeners to
provide the
program. |
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Reporting: |
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NAL will
disseminate
reports to: |
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The Hospital
- We will
provide
reports to
the
Pediatric
and OB
Committee on
a regular
basis to
allow the
Medical
Staff and
administration
to actively
examine the
program and
provide
input to the
process.
Reports will
be generated
for the
hospital to
comply with
outside
regulatory
bodies such
as JCAHO and
Arizona
Perinatal
Trust.
The State -
Using the
HI*TRACK
software, we
will provide
the State
with reports
for data
compilation
to meet the
State
newborn
hearing
screening
mandated
guideline. |
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Our Experience |
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Neonatology
Associates, Ltd. has
been providing
newborn screening
services to area
hospitals since
2004. We have
developed a program
that provides the
best screening and
follow-up for
newborns with
potential hearing
impairment.
Our dedication to
the mothers, babies
and physicians in
your community is
well established and
recognized by all
including hospital
administration,
obstetricians,
pediatricians,
family practitioners
and nursing.
The NAL Hearing
Screening Program is
one more program of
excellence offered
by Neonatology
Associates, Ltd. |
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Hospitals that NAL
is providing Hearing
Screening Services |
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Arrowhead
Hospital
West
Valley
Hospital
Maryvale
Hospital
Banner
Baywood
Hospital
Paradise
Valley
Hospital
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Mountain
Vista
Hospital
Banner
Gateway
Hospital
St.
Joseph
Hospital
Banner
Thunderbird
Hospital
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