Building Capacity for Routine, Standardized Parent-completed Developmental Screening (RSPDS) in Louisiana Pediatric Primary Care Practice

Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) 2006 mandate, many general pediatricians’ offices continue to struggle with completing routine, standardized, parent-completed developmental screening (RSPDS) during well-child visits. Several factors have made adopting RSPDS for early identification and referral of young children with, or at risk for, developmental delays difficult, and include barriers at the individual, organizational, and community levels. Increasing the number of pediatric practitioners completing RSPDS at well-child visits is important nationally, but especially important in Louisiana, where the state’s Title V Action Plan has identified increasing RSPDS as a priority objective. Many young children in need of early intervention (EI) are not identified in a timely manner and are missing critical EI services. Training nurse practitioners (NP) to complete RSPDS at well-child visits offers a potential solution.