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Early Steps
Beginning in 1977, data on follow-up developmental evaluations on infants who had been served through the RPICC-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit program were collected through the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida in Gainesville. By 1989, the developmental evaluation component was expanded to include interventions and was separated from the neonatal and obstetrical components.
In 2000, the Early Steps (ES) data system converted to an internet-based application utilizing encrypted transmission as well as both server- and user-level login/password protection. With only an internet connection, authorized personnel from each ES center have ready access to data entry and reporting for the following ES data collection components:
- Demographics, including program participation
- Interventions provided to eligible children
- Family support plan service authorizations (FSPSA)
- Results of evaluation/examination
- Individuals performing ES services
- Community agencies providing ES services
Early Steps Data and Reporting System Goals
- To collect data that will facilitate the evaluation of the effectiveness and adequacy of ES
- To track and evaluate the outcomes/consequences of the provision of early intervention services on the development of ES eligible infants and toddlers and their families
- To operate and maintain a monitoring and quality control system for infants and toddlers
- To operate and maintain a monitoring and fiscal management system for CMS ES
Florida's ES Centers additionally use the internet-based ES data collection and reporting system to submit claims for Medicaid reimbursement, including claims for targeted case management and multidisciplinary evaluation.
Data collected by the ES data system is used to perform longitudinal, outcome-based, performance measurements for program participants.
Early Steps Centers/Satellites
- Tampa (01) USF College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics
- Gainesville (02) UF-Shands College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics
- Jacksonville (03) UF-Shands Jacksonville, College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics
- North Miami (04) UM Mailman Center
- Pensacola (05) Sacred Heart Hospital
- Orlando (06) Phillips Center for Child Development
- St. Petersburg (07) All Children's Hospital
- West Palm Beach (08) St. Mary's Hospital Child Development Center
- Ft. Lauderdale (10) Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center
- Tallahassee/Panama City (51) Children's Home Society
- Brevard (52) CATCH of Brevard, Inc.
- Ft. Myers (53) Regional Planning Council of SW Florida
- Sarasota (54) Sarasota Memorial Hospital
- Daytona Beach (55) Children's Medical Services
- Stuart/Jensen Beach (56) St. Mary's Hospital Child Development Center
- South Miami (57) Miami Children's Hospital
- Key West (58) Florida Easter Seals
