The Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center is most fortunate to receive generous support from the Philippine California Advanced Research Institute of the Commission on Higher Education which is funding (PCARI-CHED) the study entitled 'Increasing the Rates of Newborn Hearing Screening with Novel Technologies and Telehealth' to the Philippine National Ear Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
In line with this effort, we would like to invite existing Category A Newborn Hearing Screening Centers to be reclassified as Category B, C or D based on the Manual of Operations of RA 9709. For Category B, C and D, inspection of the facility is mandatory. Normally, there is a corresponding fee for inspection which would include payment of airfare and accommodations for at least 2 evaluators or inspectors and their honoraria. The classification certificate is necessary for DOH Licensing in the future if your facility wants to offer services beyond newborn hearing screening using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) or automated auditory brainstem response (AABR). INSPECTION FEES SHALL BE WAIVED and shouldered by the PCARI-CHED to speed-up the re-classification process. The inspection team shall be accompanied by a surveyor from the National Telehealth Center to evaluate the capabilities of your facility as to its feasibility to test pilot the technologies and corresponding telehealth protocols that would make the referral system of the program more efficient that will be developed though the PCARI-CHED study which will be done next year.
Kindly take time to read the attached Form C document. Once reclassified, the hearing centers shall be included in a wider referral system beyond hearing screening. The capabilities of your facility shall be known to the NHSRC through its website registry, Department of Health and Philhealth. A Department of Health memo will soon be issued regarding this activity.
We are scheduling the re-classification process between September 10 to 21, 2016. Six (6) teams of three members (DOH representative, Audiologist and ENT) shall inspect and perform the re-classification process nationwide. As an added incentive, for staff members who lack the Orientation and Updates to RA 9709 which is a requirement for non-screener audiologists and physician managers, ENT surgeons, ENT coordinators, Developmental Pediatricians, Speech herapists/Pathologists, Implant Programmers, the teams can conduct the course free of charge during the inspection process for your center to complete the requirements. Our Audiologists and ENTs will be at your disposal so that you can consult them regarding protocol standardization and manpower training if needed.
We urge you to fill-out page 1 of the attached Form C and email as soon as possible to our liaison Dr. Rosario R. Ricalde at chitricalde@yahoo.com for the inspection appointment. The deadline for appointment is on September 07, 2016 (Wednesday). The inspection process will take anywhere between 1 to 4 hours depending on how many offices (if not located in one facility) will be visited.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!
Rosario R. Ricalde, MD FPSO-HNS
Liaison, Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center
