NCHAM Illinois Hi-Track Projects
Project Description:
The Illinois Department of Public Health, through its Office of Health Promotion, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI), will work with NCHAM to improve the lives of children and their families impacted by hearing loss.
NCHAM serves as the National Technical Resource Center for the implementation and improvement of comprehensive and effective Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems. As a multidisciplinary Center, NCHAM's goal is to ensure that all infants and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provided with timely and appropriate audiological, educational, and medical intervention. 
The collaboration will allow the Illinois Department of Health to meet the state requirements of Public Act 99-0834 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. Illinois shall work with NCHAM to meet the federal requirements for data tracking and follow-up as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and system building of the Health Resources and Services Administration. HiTrack is USU's data management system, administered by NCHAM, and used by the State of Illinois since prior to December 31, 2002. HiTrack was selected to meet the needs related to our large birth rate. Illinois now has approximately 130,000 births per year and up to 115 birthing facilities are required to report newborn hearing screening results for infants born in Illinois to DPH. HiTrack stores over 3 million records related to the EHDI program. The licenses, maintenance, and support for the current data is available only through HiTrack.
This collaboration will allow the Program to enhance the EHDI program and information system to meet the needs of data tracking and follow-up for infants born in the state of Illinois from screening and diagnosis to intervention. The project will address meeting the data submission needs and national EHDI goals and initiatives while working with stakeholders such as physicians, audiologists, interventionists, state agencies, and parent-to-parent support organizations. The project will look to streamline current procedures by saving resources, meeting national benchmarks in a timely manner and improving data quality.
Keyword(s):
Early Childhood – General, Health Equity, Medical Home, Early Childhood – Newborn Screening, Social Determinants of Health
Core Function(s):
Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Legislators/Policy Makers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Another State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
