Pediatric Developmental Surveillance Program

Wake County Human ServicesRaleigh, North Carolina

Jean C. Smith, MDjcsmith@co.wake.nc.us

CityMatCHAlbuquerque, NM

September 22, 2008

Pediatric Developmental Surveillance ProgramMission Statement

The PDSP is a Wake County Human Services program initially funded in 1998 by Wake County Smart Start. Wake County medical providers and community partners are trained in developmental surveillance of children birth to 5 years of age in order to:

1. Enhance development2. Assure early identification of

developmental needs3. Link to appropriate services to promote

success in school and life.

“According to the Milestone Police, Charlotte should have been talking by eighteen months..” “I will always remember toddlerhood as the beginning of the stage of not knowing.”

A Special Education: One family’s journey through the maze of learning disabilities

Dana Buchman

Why is the early detection of developmental problems so critical?

Children involved in early intervention programs are more likely:

To live independently Graduate from high school Save society $30,000-$100,000 per

child

“Developmental” History of the PDSP

Two previous projects in Wake County from the mid 1990’s:

Healthy Start project - providing PE’s and developmental assessments in child care settings with funding by Wake County Smart Start.

NC Health Choice enrollment initiative – a collaborative between Wake County Human Services and NC Pediatric Society for Wake County practices.

ALSO……. AAP Committee on Children with

Disabilities recommended the use of standardized screening tests periodically at well visits.

Early detection = early intervention.

North Carolina Division of Public Health outlined new Medicaid EPSDT screening guidelines.

Developmental Screening Tools

PARENT QUESTIONNAIRESAges & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ):

2 months-5yrsParents’ Evaluations of Developmental

Status (PEDS): 0-8yrs.DIRECT ELICITATION

Brigance: 21 mos-7.5 yrs.www.dbpeds.org

“Do you think there’s anything wrong?”“I don’t know, do you?”“What could it be if there is?”“I don’t know, I wonder whom we'd ask?”

A Special Education: One family’s journey through the maze of learning disabilities

Dana Buchman

Where are infants & young children seen on a regular

basis?

WELL CHILD VISITS!

In 2002, 84% of children < 6 years of age had a well-child visit in past year.

In 2000, almost one half of parents had concerns about young child’s speech, social development, or behavior, but only about 45% of parents recalled any developmental assessment being done.

The Pediatric Developmental Surveillance Program

“bottom line”Putting principles of

developmental surveillance into practice

and medical practices.

Conceptual Models Used in Development of PDSP

Academic Detailing – targeted one-on-one educational program

Process Planning – structured approach to implementation of a new program or procedure

PDSP Staff Developmental-Behavioral

Pediatrician Program Manager Child Health Nurse Supervisor Developmental Specialists: 1 RN,

1 MSW, & 1 BS in Child Development

MethodsPDSP

Developmental Specialists (DS) directly collaborate with 41 medical practices

DS provides onsite screening, referral and follow-up of children with developmental concerns

DS provides onsite training and consultation to providers

How is this done?

Primary Care Practice:

Parent completes primary screening tool at well child visits

PCP identifies if need/risk present

Refers to DS

DS: Administers

secondary screening tool

Consults with PCP Refers for early

intervention assessments and services

Provides ongoing follow up with family

Scenario

18 month old is seen in the pediatric office Parent completes ASQ questionnaire Child shows areas of concern with speech DS screens child with Brigance Identifies need for referral to CDSA DS assists with referral Follows-up to ascertain child received services Child presents at Kindergarten ready to learn!

“No one wants to have a ‘special needs’ child but finding the right resources is the key. You have provided all of this for us and we are extremely grateful.”

Letter from a mother to the developmental specialist.

Working with Doctors

Mentoring Primary Health Care Providers on Developmental Screening and Surveillance

Pediatric Developmental Surveillance Program Training

Implementation/Training Mentoring/consultation Surveillance/support Continuing Quality Improvement

(CQI)

Implementation/Training Survey the landscape

Identify individual staff levels of expertise/interest/commitment

Introduction of tools, resources, & referrals

Mentoring/Consultation Case centered - use individual

cases to teach new tools and expand provider’s skills

Consultee/mentee centered – ‘hone’ provider skills and expand referral networks

Surveillance/Support

Monitor system progress

Updates – tools, new guidelines, mandates, web-sites, etc., etc.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Monitor and ‘grade’ the process

Offer feedback - include community and practice specific outcomes for children

Offer incentives for continued success

2006-2007 Outputs 773 children received secondary level

screening by Developmental Specialists 50% were referred for additional

assessments/treatments 148 were enrolled in early intervention

through CDSA/WCPSS (does not include private speech providers)

>2500 consultations to providers in medical offices

Wake County Child Health Report Card 2007 Number of children (age 0-3)

enrolled in Early Intervention services to reduce effects of developmental delay, emotional disturbance and/or chronic illness-

*2002-03 593 children *2005-06 1,255 children

111.6% change

PDSP - Lessons learned about working with

primary care practices

Primary care practices – both public and private – can effectively & efficiently do screening into their practice routines.

This furthers universal, community-wide screening for early intervention to meet children’s developmental needs

Practices welcome assistance to provide quality care IF it can be integrated into their individual office setting.

PDSP - Lessons learned about working with

primary care practices

Flexibility in tailoring implementation & training is key in making sure practices own the process of developmental surveillance.

PDSP - Lessons learned about working with

primary care practices

Assigning a developmental Specialist to each practice is essential in establishing a relationship that allows for CQI monitoring, timely sharing of new information of community resources, and about the field of child development in general.

From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The science of early childhood

development

“The charge to society is to blend the skepticism of a scientist, the passion of an advocate, the pragmatism of a policy maker, the creativity of a practitioner, and the devotion of a parent – and to use existing knowledge to ensure both a decent quality of life for all of our children and a productive future for the nation.”

REFERENCES

Principles of educational outreach (‘academic detailing’) to improve clinical decision making. Soumerai and Avorn, JAMA 1990; 263: 549-556.

www.dbpeds.org – developmental screening tools, changing practice patterns, developmental surveillance tutorial

“I will always remember toddlerhood as the beginning of the stage of not knowing. It’s a stage that, nineteen years later, still hasn’t come to an end and probably never will.”

A Special Education: One family’s journey through the maze of learning disabilities

Dana Buchman

“Imagine being defined by what you’re worst at-bing tone-deaf, always forgetting people’s names, having allergies. Doesn’t seem very fair, does it?”

A Special Education: One family’s journey through the maze of learning disabilities

Dana Buchman