INDUSTRY MATTERS
Reducing Risks for the Most Vulnerable : Enhancing Newborn Screening Through Interoperability
By Juan Vasquez , MHA , project coordinator , NBS Interoperability Implementation Project , Ruvos
Newborn screening ( NBS ) saves the lives of thousands of newborn infants each year in the United States . NBS is a vital part of our public health system , testing over four million infants annually for genetic , congenital , metabolic and other conditions that can have profound and life-threatening impacts which — if detected in time — may be treatable .
NBS programs work tirelessly to ensure that no infant is deprived of this lifesaving service , but challenges persist . Most programs compare their screening records , held on a laboratory information management system ( LIMS ), with birth records from the state vital statistics system , in order to identify infants that have yet to be screened . Because these systems cannot directly share data , reconciling records is an onerous and time-consuming manual process , risking errors or delays that could profoundly impact a baby ’ s life .
According to the US Health Resources and Services Administration ( HRSA ), “ newborn screening systems that can effectively , efficiently and securely exchange information are more likely to provide timely and accurate screening , leading to early diagnosis , intervention and treatment . Manual data entry and not having access to other state databases may lead to inaccurate or missing data , which could result in delays in screening or reporting results .” This reality has led HRSA to promote modernization efforts that establish interoperability between NBS LIMS and vital statistics databases .
Recently , a HRSA-supported interoperability project brought together the Florida Department of Health ’ s NBS Program and Ruvos , an innovative data solutions partner committed to revolutionizing newborn screening through advanced technology and modernization strategies .
The project started with a readiness assessment led by Ruvos to evaluate current capabilities , identify strengths and opportunities for interoperability , and provide a roadmap to reach modernization goals . The key achievement of the project was the creation of an application that automates data matching between NBS LIMS and the state vital statistics database . As a result , 100 % of NBS LIMS and vital statistics birth records were matched and reconciled .
Positive outcomes were immediate and noteworthy .
• Data validation work that previously took several days now took minutes . Rather than validating each individual record , the application allows all records to be processed in a single run , pinpointing any discrepancies , which can then be addressed much more quickly . This results in a significant reduction in reporting time .
• Improved data quality greatly facilitates the work of follow-up teams .
• Home birth newborns that had not been screened were identified , as were newborns that had been screened but did not have vital statistics records . There was improved identification of out-ofstate and non-reported births .
This project may serve as a useful case study for other jurisdictions contemplating data modernization efforts .
Some key considerations :
• Data quality improvement : Implement rigorous data validation and quality efforts to ensure accuracy and reliability .
• Workflow and process optimization : Identify and optimize critical workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness .
• Data exchange and interoperability : Utilize HL7 standards and other methods to enable smooth data integration and exchange .
• Technical modernization : Upgrade systems and infrastructure to support modern reporting solutions , data analytics , and visualization .
• Technical partnership : Identify collaborators with proven technical expertise and data modernization experience to assist with collaborative assessment , strategic roadmap development and project delivery .
For more information about this project and our approach to newborn screening modernization , contact us at hello @ ruvos . com . g
Ruvos is an APHL Diamond Level Sustaining Member .
Acknowledgements :
The State Newborn Screening Interoperability Implementation Project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration ( HRSA ) of the US Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) as part of an award totaling $ 200,000 with 0 % financed with non-governmental sources . The contents are those of the author ( s ) and do not necessarily represent the official views of , nor an endorsement by , HRSA , HHS , or the US Government .
10 LAB MATTERS Winter 2024
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