The research is clear: developmental screening is critical in the first years of a child’s life.1

Despite research findings, screening rates remain as low as 17% in some states,2 and many pediatricians don’t screen using American Academy of Pediatrics recommended tools such as the PEDS-DM or the ASQ.3 According to a survey of California pediatricians, 95% agreed that developmental screening is important, but only 37% said they were performing screenings using validated tools.4

What challenges are pediatricians facing? Pediatricians cite time as a significant barrier to performing screenings.4 Physicians who are screening usually only have time to do so informally at well-child visits, but they are unable to access reimbursement for informal screenings.  Furthermore, valuable time that could be spent educating parents on developmental milestones, discussing parent concerns, or referring a child-in-need is wasted on screening and scoring, which can take 5 or more minutes of a short 15-minute visit.

As a family-run practice providing pediatric care to children in Los Angeles County, Kidz Kare Doc decided to try BabyNoggin to see how a digital tool could improve workflow efficiency, increase parent engagement, and help them access reimbursement for the high-quality care they were already providing. 

Read about BabyNoggin’s impact in our case study with Kidz Kare Doc.

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References:

1.Burak, E.W. and Odeh, M. (2018) Developmental Screenings for Young Children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Retrieved from https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2018/03/06/developmental-screenings-for-young-children-in-medicaid-and-the-childrens-health-insurance-program/#easy-footnote-1

2.Hirai, A.H., Koganm M.D., Kandasamy, Veni., Reuland, C., Bethell, C. (2018) Prevalence and variation of developmental screening and surveillance in early childhood. Jama Pediatrics, 172(9), 857-866. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2686728?resultClick=1

3.American Academy of Pediatrics. Screening Tools. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Screening/Pages/Screening-Tools.aspx

4.Silicon Valley Foundation. (2017). From the Doctor’s Office: California Pediatrician Survey on Early Childhood Developmental Screening. Retrieved from: https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/sites/default/files/publications/2017-CAPediatricianSurvey-DevelopmentalScreening.pdf