Article Test

Abstract

 Background - Newborn screening programs have grown over the past 50 years to include screening for more than 40 metabolic and genetic disorders. Technology, or the ability to screen for disorders, is not the sole influence for expansion of screening. The lack of clarity in how facilitators and barriers impact newborn screening programs can affect the stakeholder’s perspective of public health department initiatives and future goals.

 Method - We developed a logic model in order to help stakeholders establish reasonable expectations, while being aware of the delays and unanticipated consequences which might occur when attempting to expand newborn screening programs. 

 Results and Conclusions - Our logic model emphasizes that expansion of Newborn Screening relies on several interrelated factors that can be identified as Technical, Financial, Policy and Human Capital. Further delineating these factors into a series of checklists promises to be of value to decision-makers in state-operated newborn screening programs, given constrained resources and anticipated barriers.