Children’s Health Improvement Partnership of Indiana

The Children’s Health Improvement Partnership of Indiana, also known as CHIP IN, implements evidenced-based quality improvements in pediatric practices across the state of Indiana. The program provides developmental screening tools to pediatricians throughout Indiana, allowing them to provide standardized screening for autism and other developmental delays. These tools include the MCHAT R/F and the ASQ-3. Children with screens that show delays are referred to the local Early Evaluation Hub for further testing and diagnosis. CHIP IN supports these practices as they track and improve their screening rates, ensuring that more children ages 18-42 months are screened throughout the state.

CHIP IN is a collaborative partnership between IU School of Medicine’s Children’s Health Services Research, the Indiana Department of Health, and other organizations established to engage government agencies, professional medical organizations, insurers, family organizations, and community partners in collaborative, measurement based quality-improvement initiatives. The program strives to provide optimal care for Indiana’s children and youth by working with the primary care medical home to translate evidence-based practices into implementable steps; understand and work through systems to create realistic, measurable improvements in quality; and partner with families and the health care team to improve care.

CHIP IN Current Projects

CHIP IN convenes core partners to determine priorities for improving children’s health in Indiana. Current work is focused on early screening, evaluation and diagnosis of autism and other developmental disabilities. CHIP IN also works in tandem with the Pediatric and Adolescent Comparative Effectiveness Research group in the Department of Pediatrics to manage the implementation and dissemination of effective, evidence-based practices throughout Indiana.

History

CHIP IN for Quality was established in 2011 with support from the Indiana State Department of Health and the IU School of Medicine. The first CHIP IN project centered on enhancing the primary care medical home model. The project, funded by the Indiana State Department of Health through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration Community Integrated Systems of Service grant, supported primary care pediatric practices to implement changes, track progress and make ongoing improvements to their medical home.

Partnership and Support

Many organizations support the work of CHIP IN through formal and informal partnerships and make unique contribution to children’s health in Indiana. Partners include Indiana University School of Medicine; Indiana State Department of Health, Children’s Special Health Care Services; Riley Children’s Foundation; Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Family Voices Indiana; About Special Kids; and Indiana Medicaid Managed Care Entities. CHIP IN is led by IU School of Medicine faculty members Nancy Swigonski, MD, MPH, Kathleen Swec, MD and Michelle Curtin, DO. Other staff includes data manager, Jennifer Stanton Tully, and pediatric practice liaisons, Megan Overgaard, Angela Paxton, Kara Casavan and Mary Delaney.

From primary care, a family’s visit to an Early Evaluation Hub can provide evaluation, diagnosis and any needed specialty care and other services that can help children grow and thrive. To make an Early Evaluation Hub appointment, a child must be 18-42 months of age and have a primary care physician. The primary physician must identify concern based on standardized screening tools (often ASQ and/or MCHAT).