title: Developmental Surveillance and Referral in a Traditionally Medically Underserved Border Community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early identification and referral have been shown to improve long-term outcomes for children with disabilities. However, the number of children enrolled in early intervention services continues to be lower than the number of children confirmed to be developmentally delayed later in life. This study investigated the pattern of developmental surveillance and referral practices of pediatricians in a traditionally medically underserved border community.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was created by members of a community/academic partnership. Emails were followed up with a personal contact to doctor's offices to increase the response rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate for the survey was 26.7 %. Most respondents reported using a combination of formal screening tools and parent interviews to complete developmental screenings in their practice with the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers being the most commonly used tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most respondents reported referring children for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C services, gaps were identified in available services and in the referral process that need to be addressed. Additionally, future studies need to evaluate the efficacy of a referral and feedback system to improve earlier access to intervention services for children with disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Early Childhood Intervention Program, Region 19 - Education Service Center, El Paso, TX, 79925, USA. egonzalez@esc19.net.
authors.forename: Eugenia C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Speech Language Pathology Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: Speech Language Pathology Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Early Childhood Intervention Program, Region 19 - Education Service Center, El Paso, TX, 79925, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Community Resource Center, Paso del Norte Children's Development Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gil-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Project LAUNCH - Young Child Wellness Program, Aliviane, Inc., El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: C.A.R.E. Unit, El Paso First Health Plans, Inc., El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Maritza E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010372:Pediatrics; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism screenings; Developmental surveillance; Early intervention; IDEA Part C services