A strategy to improve developmental screening during well baby visits

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Developmental exams are often overlooked during well-baby visits due to time limitations.
• Early developmental screening is crucial for identifying potential delays and ensuring timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a simple, standardized developmental screening instrument on physician usage during well-baby exams.
• To determine if integrating a screening tool into medical records improves developmental surveillance for young children.

Main Methods:

• A standardized developmental screening instrument was placed in the medical records of children under two years of age.
• Physician utilization of the screening instrument was monitored for 18 months post-intervention.
• The influence of faculty use on resident physician adoption was observed.

Main Results:

• Developmental screening rates increased from 15.7% in the 12 months prior to intervention to 41.9% in the 12 months after.
• Physician use of the screening tool saw a substantial rise following its implementation.
• Faculty engagement with the tool positively influenced resident physician usage.

Conclusions:

• Integrating standardized screening tools into medical records is an effective strategy to enhance developmental surveillance.
• Addressing time constraints through simple interventions can significantly improve the frequency of developmental exams.
• Faculty role modeling can promote the adoption of new clinical tools among resident physicians.