Download Tracking From Birth

Virginia’s Newborn Hearing
Screening Program
Tracking From Birth
Pat T. Dewey, M.Ed.
Program Manager
Virginia Department of Health
Virginia’s Program
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Mandated by Code of Virginia
Hospitals screen and inform parent
Hospitals report to VDH
VDH responsible for tracking
Confidentiality also in the Code
Consent not required
VISITS
Virginia Infant Screening and Infant Tracking System
A Web-based, Integrated Data Management and Tracking
System
VISITS: General Information
 web-based, integrated tracking and data
management system
 developed by the Virginia Department of Health
through a contractual agreement with Health
Informatics.
 major funding provided by Virginia Department
of Mental Health Mental Retardation and
Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS), lead
agency for Part C of IDEA. Title V funds used
for project management.
General Information
VISITS supports the following statewide
programs:
Newborn Hearing Screening Program
 VaCARES (Virginia Congenital Anomalies
Reporting and Education System)
 Newborn Metabolic Screenings
 At-Risk (Child Find for Part C)
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VISITS: Primary Features
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Tracks all infants born in Virginia.
Provides a single point of entry for infant
records.
Provides a user-friendly mechanism to
electronically transmit required data to a
centralized database.
Establishes a statewide, web-based centralized
Oracle database.
Primary Features
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Allows immediate access to all infant
records without the need for exporting
or transferring data.
Facilitates information sharing and
improved communication among VDH
programs.
Primary Features
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Provides ability to quickly and easily
detect statewide trends and report
statistics.
Generates letters to ensure that infants
testing positive receive the necessary
follow-up services and information.
VISITS: Confidentiality
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Firewall
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Encryption
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Password Protection
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Assigned security rights
Data Items
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Test/equipment used
Screener’s name
Screening results, each ear
Setting
Reason not screened
Risk indicators for hearing loss
Record Identifiers
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System assigns a unique number
No master index
Linkages with birth certificate data is
being pursue
Primary Care Providers
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Hospitals required to inform PCP
VDH contacts PCP on infants who refer
and infants lost to follow-up
PCP has no access to VISITS
Follow-up and tracking information
entered by VDH
Audiologists
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Regulations require reporting to VDH
Follow-up forms distributed statewide
Form can be mailed or faxed
Can be completed on line (program
Web site) and sent via e-mail
No access to VISITS
Parents
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Code of Virginia gives responsibility to
VDH to establish and maintain the
identification and tracking system
Code allows VDH to contact families
VDH sends letter to parent to remind
them of the need for follow-up
VDH sends letter when child identified
with hearing loss
Collaborations
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Children with Special Health Care Needs
Program
Part C of IDEA
New Pediatric Screening and Genetic
Services Unit
Pediatric Screening and Genetic Services
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Newly created within VDH, Division of Child and
Adolescent Health
Director is Nancy Ford, MPH, RN
Will ultimately include the following genetics-related
programs, some of which are currently within Division
of Women’s and Infants’ Health:
 VaCARES
 Virginia Newborn Screening Services
 Virginia Newborn Hearing Screening Program
 VDH representation to Part C – IDEA.