Report No. 037-12

TO: Chair and Members of the Board of Health
FROM: Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health
DATE: 2012 March 22

One-Time Funding – Infant Hearing Screening Equipment

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Health authorize the signing of the Agreement with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for funding of up to $141,000 on a one-time basis to be utilized for the purchase of infant hearing screening equipment.

Background

The provincial Infant Hearing Program was announced in December 2000.  This program consists of universal hearing screening for all babies, follow-up audiological assessment to confirm hearing loss in babies who failed the initial screening and communication development and supports for infants and their families where there is confirmed hearing loss.  The Health Unit is one of 12 Infant Hearing Programs across the province and covers the regions of Middlesex-London, Huron-Perth, Oxford, Elgin-St. Thomas, Sarnia-Lambton and Grey Bruce Owen Sound. The Infant Hearing Program is funded 100% by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. 

100% Ministry Funding

Confirmation has been received from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that up to $141,000 is available to this Health Unit on a one-time basis until March 31, 2012, to purchase new infant hearing screening equipment.  The funding letter is attached as Appendix A.  The Ministry has managed a competitive bid process for the purchases across the province.  The bid opportunity has been awarded to Genie Audio Inc. and all equipment, supplies and extended warranties must be purchased from this company for the next 2 years.  With this amount of funding, the program will be able to purchase equipment and supplies as identified in Table 1 below. 

Table 1 – Infant Hearing Screening Equipment 

The new equipment will begin to replace some of the older hearing screening equipment.  As the equipment ages, it begins to break down and repairs are extremely costly.  Extended warranties on older equipment have expired and can no longer be purchased.  The new equipment also reflects advances in technology that have occurred in the past 10 years resulting in screening results that are more accurate and less invasive.

This report was prepared by Mr. John Millson, Director of Finance & Operations, and Ms. Debbie Shugar, Manager, tykeTALK, Infant Hearing Program, and Blind Low Vision programs.

Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health

This report addresses the following requirement(s) of the Ontario Public Health Standards:
Child Health – This report addresses the Child Health Program whose goal it is to “enable all children to attain and sustain optimal health and developmental potential.” This report demonstrates our work aimed at meeting requirement #4, #5, and #7 of the Child Health Program.