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EHDI: Timely Diagnosis Initiative

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

The EHDI: Timely Diagnosis Initiative purpose:

Over the next six months, we intend to improve the percentage of newborns with refer/did not pass newborn hearing screening from birthing facilities and received a complete audiological hearing evaluation by 3 months of age.

For more information please contact Susan Thompson Boehm at: susan.boehm@minnesotaperinatal.org

Aim & Charter
Family Of Measures
Hearing Screening Resources
Workgroup Members
Participating Hospitals
Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MNPQC) Report
These are a variety of resources provided by MPO/MNPQC and other organizations for healthcare providers and the public. Many links are provided by other organizations and are subject to change without notice.

Aim

By October 2023, we intend to improve the Complete Audiological Hearing Evaluation (CAHE) of those 3 months or younger who were referred from newborn hearing screening by 25% or more.

Charter

The EHDI: Timely Diagnosis Initiative purpose is over the next six months, we intend to improve the percentage of newborns with refer/did not pass newborn hearing screening from birthing facilities and received a complete audiological hearing evaluation by 3 months of age.

Full Charter Here

Program Guide

Full Program Guide Below

Full Program Guide Here

Family of Measures

Stratify by race/ethnicity where available.

Outcome Measure (Data provided by the state):

  • Percentage of newborns screened
  • Percentage of newborns who did not pass newborn hearing screen and were rescreened within 15 days of discharge from birthing facility
  • Percentage of newborns, referred who received a complete audiological hearing evaluation by 3 months of age

Process Measures (Data collected by teams):

  • Percent of families that had newborn hearing screen results and follow-up reviewed/discussed and documented (with hospital staff) prior to discharge
  • Percentage of newborns who did not pass newborn hearing screening and were scheduled for outpatient rescreen (within 15 days) prior to discharge
  • Percentage of newborns who did not pass hearing screening and were scheduled foraudiological hearing evaluation within 6 weeks
  • Percentage of newborns with hearing screening results available at first newborn Primary Care Provider (PCP) visit – regardless of reason for the first visit, e.g., weight check, bilirubin check
  • Percent of families where newborn hearing screen results and follow-up were reviewed/discussed and documented at first primary care clinic visit
  • Percentage of Complete Audiologic Hearing Evaluation sent to MDH and PCP within 6 working days of evaluation (State Provided)

Balancing Measure (Data provided by the state):

  • Percentage of newborns lost to follow up

Workgroup Members

Anne Walaszek

MPH, Minnesota Department of Health

Anne Walaszek, MPH (Anishinaabe) is the Maternal and Child Health Quality Improvement Specialist in the Women and Infant Health Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. In her role, she leads two quality improvement grants, the Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Communities Collaborating to Prevent Girls Opioid Abuse.

Ms. Walaszek has experience working at a national non-profit addressing cancer inequities within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. In this role, she provided leadership for a clinic and community health approach to develop and implement culturally tailored evidence-based interventions to effectively build capacity in health systems across Indian Country. Her public health experience reflects grant writing, program development, research and data management throughout her experiences at the Minnesota Department of Health Diabetes Program, Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, and SAMHSA for their Child, Adolescent and Family Branch. Ms. Walaszek is a 2017 recipient of the “Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities.”

Bridget Walde

MPH, Minnesota Department of Health

Bridget Walde is the Longitudinal Follow-up Planner in the Children and Youth with Special Health Needs section at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). She supports the work of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program and other projects related to long-term follow-up for newborn screening conditions. Prior to working for MDH, she worked for the Children’s Defense Fund supporting the implementation of culturally responsive afterschool programming. She also spent two years working in Guatemala with children and adults with disabilities. Bridget graduated from Saint Louis University in 2018 with her Master of Public Health and a concentration in maternal and child health.

Darcia Dierking

Au.D., Minnesota Department of Health

Darcia Dierking, Au.D. holds pediatric audiology specialty certification and has more than 20 years of clinical and research experience working with both children and adults. Dr. Dierking works with the Minnesota Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program doing longitudinal follow-up for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Elizabeth Pai

MD

Jane Taylor

Jane Taylor is an Improvement Advisor and Learning Designer. She supports learning collaboratives and innovation projects by providing expertise in improvement approaches and measurement. Since 2016, Jane has provided quality improvement expertise for MN Perinatal Association and MNPQC on Preventing Preterm Births, Hypertension in
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care, The Early Hearing Diagnosis Initiatives, and the MOSTaRE Opioid Project. Currently she severs on the Data Committee and the Steering Committee.

Jane has dedicated the last 22 years of her profession career to improving lives for newborns, infants, children and birthing people. For fun she is an amateur violinist and ballroom competitor. She enjoys sailing on Lake Pepin in the summer with her husband and their dog, Pepper.

Kirsten Coverstone
MDH, Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

Dr. Kirsten Coverstone is an audiologist and coordinator of the statewide Early Hearing Detection & Intervention program. She has led a number of quality improvement projects involving hospitals, clinics, & specialists in an effort to improve outcomes and decrease disparities in timely follow-up and diagnosis of hearing loss.

Michael Severson

M.D., F.A.A.P.

Susan Thompson Boehm

BSN, MS, RN, MPO/MNPQC Executive Director


Susan has been a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Women’s Health for over 30 years. She has a long history with MPO as a volunteer, conference presenter, planning committee member, and has served on the Board of Directors. She is currently the MPO Executive Director and Co-Director of the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MNPQC).

She enjoys the outdoors, hiking and kayaking, and loves the solitude of their cabin in the Boundary Waters.

Taylor Loth

UMN

Taylor is an experienced Newborn Hearing Screening Technician with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. She is skilled in Spanish, Healthcare, Microsoft Excel, Research, and Volunteering. She is a strong healthcare services professional with a Bachelor of Arts – BA focused in Biochemistry and Hispanic Studies from College of Saint Benedict.