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Implementing Mobile Text messaging to Improve Well Visits Rate in Early Head Start Programs
Abstract
Problem: In a federally funded Early Head Start (EHS) program serving underserved children from birth to 3 years of age, the number of children up to date with their well child visits was notably low. According to a review of charts records, 53.5% of children in the EHS program were behind with their well child visit. The impact of missed well child visits results in a provider-missed opportunity to identify early sign of developmental delays and medical and behavior concerns. Purpose: The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to implement a mobile text-messaging reminder to parents/guardian with the goal of improving the rate of well child visit completion in the EHS program. Methods: Health records of all children enrolled within the EHS program were reviewed for evidence of well child visit completion prior to implementation of the QI initiative. Following this review, children identified as being out of date with their well child visit were transcribed onto a checklist for use in identifying families who were to receive a reminder. The Family Advocate (FA) employee within the EHS was responsible for sending the text-message reminder on a weekly basis through review of the checklist created. The total number of children requiring a visit reminder, as well as visit completion, was monitored throughout the implementation period. Results: The QI project included all children enrolled in the EHS centers. Among the 53.5 % of children identified as being behind with their well child visits, 80% of these children’s parents received a text message reminder. Post-implementation, a total of 84.6% of children were up to date with their well visits compared to 46.6% pre-implementation. Conclusions: Overall, the QI project demonstrated improvement in well child visit completion in response to the implementation of the mobile text-messaging reminder.Identifier to cite or link to this item
http://hdl.handle.net/10713/20844Collections
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