Date of Award

2018

Degree Name

Nursing (D.N.P.)

Department

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Karen Burritt, PhD, RN, FNP-BC

Second Advisor

Dianne Slager, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Third Advisor

Geraldine Terry, MD, MSN, RN

Fourth Advisor

Constanza Fox, MD, FAAP

Abstract

Background: It is estimated that 15% of children in the United States have at least one developmental delay, sadly, less than one-fifth of these children receive early intervention services before the age of three (Vitrikas, Savard, & Bucaj, 2017).

Objectives: Design, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based protocol to assist in timely referrals of identified children to intervention services in a pediatric primary care setting through staff education of the developmental screening tool ASQ-3.

Methods: Accurate assessment of current practice revealed the need for development and implementation of a protocol. Staff education was evaluated through pre and post-surveys. Data was collected pre and post-protocol implementation through chart reviews.

Results: The post-protocol implementation data resulted in an increase in screening and 5 children being referred for early intervention services and 4 are being watched with areas of concern.

Conclusions: Through education and the development of a protocol this quality improvement project improved quality of care, referrals, workflow, reimbursement, understanding, and overall developmental screening in this primary care practice.

Implications: This developmental screening protocol will provide a foundation to increase overall screening in the practice.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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