Developmental screening in urban primary care is feasible but insufficient
A study in Pediatrics by Jim Guevara, Marsha Gerdes, and colleagues found that implementing standardized screening in urban primary care practices is a feasible and effective way to identify developmental delays in young children. However, the study also found that these screenings are not enough to ensure that children will receive appropriate Early Intervention (EI) services, or even a referral for these services. The barriers to EI services, explored in a recent paper by Manny Jimenez and colleagues, point to the need for increased coordination between primary care offices and EI administrators. PolicyLab proposed a model for this coordination in the SERIES Evidence to Action brief. For more information on the Pediatrics study, see the 1-page summary.