In March 2020, HOI was contracted by the Earbus Foundation of WA to undertake an evaluation of their Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS) Program. The NBHS Program operates as part of the National Neonatal Hearing Screening Framework administered by the WA Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) in private hospitals throughout Western Australia. The aim of the Program is to screen all babies to early identify a Permanent Childhood Hearing Impairment (PCHI).
The HOI team conducted a desktop analysis of Program activity and financial data; determined the effectiveness of the Program in meeting performance indicators and international benchmarks for newborn screening programs through qualitative and quantitative data analysis and literature reviews; and investigated the effectiveness of management and referral processes, service networks and parent/family satisfaction through stakeholder consultations and survey analysis.
HOI produced a report summarising these findings, which was accepted by the client.