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September 30, 2009

Featured Topic: 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.

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Innovation Profiles:
	-	Nurse- and Pharmacist-Led Physician-Approved Inpatient Pneumococcus Standing Order Program Increases Vaccination Rates for At-Risk Patients

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

	-	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

	-	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

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

	-	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

	-	Providing Education, Practical Tools, and Other Support to Pediatric Practices Increases Provision of Weight Management Services
QualityTools:
	-	Care Notebook

	-	Deploy Rapid Response Teams

	-	Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent's Guide to Assessment

	-	School Community Toolkit

	-	Sustainability for Community Quality Collaboratives: An Overview of the Art & Science of Building Staying Power

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Last updated: September 30, 2009.

September 30, 2009

Innovation Profiles:

QualityTools: