Section 85. Responsibilities of other birthing places or centers

The chief medical officer of other birthing places or centers or his designee or the attending practitioner shall:

1. Cause all infants to be assessed for risk indicators associated with hearing loss as defined in 12VAC5-80-75;

2. Provide written information to the parent or guardian of each infant that includes purposes and benefits of newborn hearing screening, risk indicators for hearing loss, procedures used for hearing screening, providers where hearing screening can be obtained, and contact information for the Virginia EHDI program;

3. Notify the infant's primary health care provider, within two weeks after birth, of the status of the hearing screening including if the infant was not tested, identified risk indicators associated with hearing loss as defined in 12VAC5-80-75, and the recommendations for testing in writing or through an electronically secure method that meets all applicable state and federal privacy laws; and

4. Provide the department with information, as required by the board pursuant to § 32.1-64.1 F of the Code of Virginia and in a manner devised by the department on the hearing screening and risk indicator status of infants born at the other birthing place or center. This information shall be provided within two weeks after birth unless otherwise stated and includes, but may not be limited to:

a. Demographic information on infants including name, date of birth, race, ethnicity, and gender;

b. Primary contact information including address, telephone number, and relationship type;

c. Primary health care provider name, address, and telephone number;

d. Risk indicators identified as defined in 12VAC5-80-75;

e. Special circumstances regarding infants as needed by the department to provide follow-up;

f. Screening methodology used, date screened, and both right and left ear results if applicable;

g. Screening status for pass with risk indicator, failures, unable to test, refusals, and inconclusive results if applicable;

h. Status of infants not screened that includes, but may not be limited to, infants who were transferred to other facilities and parents who refused screening;

i. Hearing rescreening information including date, type of screening methodology used, results in both left and right ears, and further recommendations within two weeks after the rescreening date if applicable; and

j. Confirmatory data on the status of all infants born in the birthing place or center. The department shall receive confirmation that infants not reported with a screening status have had a negative assessment for risk indicators and have been referred for a hearing screening.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 30, Issue 05, eff. December 6, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-64.1 of the Code of Virginia.