Improving Blood Lead Screening Rates

Children exposed to lead often have no obvious symptoms, so lead poisoning can go unidentified. Blood lead screening is critical to initiate appropriate interventions when indicated and to prevent further exposure. Blood lead screening is a Healthy Vermonter’s 2020 indicator and is key to Optimal Child Development, part of Vermont’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). The Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) engages with pediatric providers and medical homes to help increase lead screening as well as reporting rates to the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) through quality improvement and technical assistance.

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Goals &

Achievements

Vermont requires all children be tested for lead at ages 12 and 24 months, or age 24-72 months if they have never been tested. VCHIP provides technical assistance to pediatric and family medicine practices to help determine if lower lead screening rates reflect lower lead testing or lack of timely reporting. Thirty-four practices have engaged in quality improvement or received technical assistance.

Highlights

Recent Training and Education Events

October 23, 2023, Family Medicine Grand Rounds: Pediatric Blood Lead Screening and Management in Vermont.
- Slides can be found here.
- To request access to the recording click here.
October 26, 2022 Pediatric Grand Rounds: Pediatric Blood Lead Screening and Management in Vermont
- Slides can be found here.
- UVM and UVM Health Employees, click here to view the recording.
- If outside the network, click here to request access to the recording.
Child Health Advances Measured in Practice (CHAMP): 2020-2021 Learning Session - Strengthening Vermont's System of High-Performing Medical Homes (Year 1)
- Watch (Breakout Session 1, Option 1)

Resources

Please click here for more resources about lead screening.

Project Team

Matt Saia, MD, Lead Faculty

Jill Davis, MA, Project Director

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