NHSRC News and Events
Reclassification of Category A Newborn Hearing Screening Centers to B, C and D
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... read more
Philhealth Support to Implementation of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program
To ensure that all newborns have access to newborn hearing screening as provided by the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (R.A. 97091), the Department of Health (DOH) implements the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program through training, certification and quality assurance of newborn hearing screening centers and management of a registry. The use of Registry Cards to enroll newborns in the database was put into effect in Metro Manila starting May 1, 2016. Newborn Hearing Screening Test is a component of PhilHealth’s Newborn Care Package (NCP). As such, PhilHealth intends to use these Registry Cards as means of verification for NCP claims. In preparation for nationwide implementation, all accredited health care institutions (HCIs) that are providing newborn hearing screening test should coordinate with DOH Regional Offices for training and certification. Whereas, HCIs that are outsourcing this service shall make referral arrangement with DOH Certified Newborn Hearing Screening Centers. For inquiries on training, certification and procurement of Newborn Hearing Screening Registry Cards, kindly contact the the following: Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Telefax: (02) 526-4349 Cellphone: 0923-6786041 Department of Health Children’s Health Development Division – Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Telephone numbers: (02) 732-9956 (02) 651-7800 loc. 1730. The list of Certified Newborn Hearing Screening Centers is posted on the website of Newborn Hearing Screening Program (www.newbornhearingscreening.ph). To download a copy of the advisory, please fill in the details below: Your Name (required) Your Email... read more
Orientation, Updates & Certifying Course in Davao City
The Department of Health Family Health Office in cooperation with the Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center will be hosting an Orientation and Updates to RA 9709 and Category A Newborn Hearing Screening Personnel Certifying Course on August 24, 2016, 8:00 am -5:00 pm at the Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City. The Orientation and Updates to RA 9709 is the lecture portion of the Category A Newborn Hearing Screening Personnel Certifying Course and is also a pre-requisite for non-screener or manager staff members of Hearing Centers such as Speech Therapists, Cochlear Implant Programmers, Developmental Pediatricians, ENT Coordinators, and ENT Implant Surgeons. Orientation and Updates to RA 9709 participants (implant programmers, speech therapists, geneticists, nurses, pediatricians, ENT coordinators, implant surgeons) are required to bring the following: 1. Copy of valid PRC ID for physicians 2. Copy of any valid ID indicating date of birth for audiologists, speech therapists, geneticists, nurses, managers 3. Copy of Masters in Clinical Audiology diploma for audiologists 4. Copy of Speech Therapy / Pathology diploma for speech therapists 5. Copy of Residency and Fellowship Training certificates for Developmental Pediatricians, 6. Certificate of good standing from The Philippine Society of Otolaryngology Head and 7. Certificate of good standing from the Philippine Pediatric Society for Pediatricians 8. Certificate or letter of center / health facility affiliation / employment signed by Medical Director / head of facility / owner. Exact address and complete contact information of the health facility must be indicated in the certificate or letter. The screeners and managers of Category A Newborn Hearing Centers will have to pass a written 25 item multiple choice, open notes exam and... read more
Updates from the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening National TWG
Last July 14, 2016, the Department of Health Disease Prevention and Control Bureau conducted a meeting with the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening National Technical Working Group to discuss updates and issues on hearing screening center activities, certifications, compliance, and other pertinent concerns.
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IMPORTANT: All Newborn Hearing Screening Centers to Submit Monthly Report Data Backlogs
The Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center (NHSRC) of NIH requires ALL Certified Newborn Hearing Screening Centers to transmit data gathered from March 31, 2014 to March 31, 2016 using the standard spreadsheet template or MS Excel format on or before August 31, 2016.
read moreNewborn Hearing Screening Now Ready for Nationwide Implementation
After initial program implementation in selected centers, the Philippine Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center is now prepared for nationwide implementation. NHSRC will be distributing Newborn Hearing Screening Registry Cards to all certified Category A Newborn Hearing Centers.
read moreNewborn Hearing Screening Lecture
NHSRC once again conducts newborn hearing screening lecture and updates for health professionals. Last November 11, 2015, Dr. Rosario “Chit” Ricalde, MD FPSO-HNS gave a lecture on RA 9709 Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Act of 2009 Background and Updates.
read moreDOH Circular on the Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (UNHSP) Implementation
The DOH Department Circular on the Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (UNHSP) Implementation was released last March 31, 2014 to all health leaders and stakeholders including hospitals, health providers and patients across the country.
read morePNEI Update: 7th Certifying Course
The Philippine National Ear Institute in cooperation with the Philippine Academy of Neurotology Otology and Related Sciences – Philippine Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery will be conducting pre-congress courses on November 29, 2015 on Integrated Orientation and Updates to RA 9709 and Category A Newborn Hearing Screening Personnel Certifying Course and Auditory Brainstem Response Technician Training Course.
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