1. The birth hospital is the first step to identifying newborn hearing loss and to educate and guide families on newborn hearing. There are many opportunities for hospitals to evaluate their hearing programs and identify areas in need of improvement. Here are some small changes that you can incorporate into your hearing programs.

2.  Ensures all babies are screened  Data collecting, tracking of results, and reporting  Ensures follow up with calls to parents, pediatricians and audiology center  Monitors screening and documentation  Ensures working condition of machines and calibration  Keeps up with program updates  Joins state EHDI committees for quality improvement  Works with staff educators  Obtains education material for patients  Addresses any hearing program questions

3.  Training curriculum for new staff on technique, care of equipment, documentation and infection control  Have a procedure manual for your hospital  Yearly competencies for all staff  Have resource staff available to help with any questions  Periodic skills fairs to reinforce  Randomly monitor staff technique

4.  Hand out hearing screen information in prenatal class  Admission packet with hearing screen information in the appropriate language  Obtain any family history of hearing loss  Scrip the message to parents by using pocket cards with the scripting for pass or refer  Give verbal and written results and follow up information

5.  Have a hospital policy that determines when the screening will take place and when to repeat  Explain procedure to parents  Ensure the baby is in the appropriate state, quiet environment, recently fed, and asleep/relaxed state.  Use “Quiet Please Hearing Screen in Progress” signs on patient doors or areas. 

6.  Explain and give mom information on re screening the baby  Send results to pediatrician  Make rescreening and/or audiology appointment before baby is discharged  Obtain script to give to mom for rescreen  Have mom obtain referral if needed  Verify pediatrician  Ask mom how she wants to be contacted for follow up, obtain 2 contact numbers, email address, or cell phone for texting  Give mom Next Steps Checklist

7.  Written and verbal results to pediatrician  Use fax back forms for pediatricians if baby does not come to their practice  Notify pediatrician office if follow up appointment is not kept

8. NEXT STEPS WHEN YOUR BABY REFERS Call your pediatrician office to: Make the baby’s first office visit appointment Get a prescription to see the audiologist (for ABR rescreen) Get referral for hearing screen IF needed by your insurance Call your insurance company to: Add your baby to the insurance (also check to see if you need a referral) If you are applying for Medicaid, call their office as soon as possible to see if anything else needs to be done to receive baby’s card Call the audiologist office to: Schedule the ABR rescreen before your baby is 1 month of age Get instructions on what to do for the appointment *Bring your baby’s hearing results from the hospital, insurance card, referral (if needed by your insurance company), photo ID and pediatrician’s prescription to your audiology appointment.

9. Hearing Screening in Progress Please DO NOT ENTER until screening is completed. Thank You!