What's New | September 30, 2009

Developmental Disabilities

People with developmental disabilities experience chronic conditions due to physical or mental impairments such as loss of vision, hearing impairment, cerebral palsy or autism. Although these disabilities occur by age 22, they usually last a lifetime and interfere with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living, according to the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

The featured innovations describe two programs that deliver important health care services or health education to adults with developmental disabilities.

The featured QualityTools provide practical resources for schools and parents to support children with autism and special needs.

Featured Innovations:

• Adult Daycare Program Offers Nursing and Rehabilitative Services, Leading to Improved State of Mind for Low-Income Elders and Disabled Adults

• Educational Programs Bridge Communication Gaps Between Providers and Deaf Community, Leading to Enhanced Knowledge About Cancer Among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Patients

Featured QualityTools:

• Care Notebook
Developed by Seattle Children's Hospital

• Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent's Guide to Assessment
Developed by Danya International; Organization for Autism Research; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

• School Community Toolkit
Developed by Autism Speaks, Inc

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Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Family-Activated Pediatric Rapid Response Team Increases Calls From Both Families and Staff, Supports Improvements in Outcomes

• Nurse- and Pharmacist-Led Physician-Approved Inpatient Pneumococcus Standing Orders Program Increases Vaccination Rates for At-Risk Patients

• Patient Flow Improvements Eliminate Ambulance Diversions and Reduce Waiting Times for Inpatient Beds

• Pediatrician-Led Program Increases Provision of Smoking Cessation Support, Boosts Quit Rates Among Parents

• Process Improvements Based on Lean Principles Reduce Operating Room Foot Traffic, Leading to Reduced Risk of Infection and Enhanced Staff Productivity and Satisfaction

• Providing Education, Practical Tools, and Other Support to Pediatric Practices Increases Provision of Weight Management Services

• Six-Sigma Inspired Workflow Redesign Leads to Better Adherence to Evidence-Based Protocols and Fewer Infections for Surgery Patients

• Using Positive Deviance Employee-Generated Strategies Reduces MRSA Infections by 50 Percent

QualityTools >

• Deploy Rapid Response Teams
Developed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement

• Sustainability for Community Quality Collaboratives: An Overview of the Art & Science of Building Staying Power
Developed by Center for Health Improvement