support horizon scanning to identify key issues facing the future of newborn bloodspot screening highlight strategic research priorities. Programs strive to innovate and have processes in place to identify and assess new ideas, integrate them into practice within their own program and assist with integration into other state and territory programs where appropriate. Where innovation approaches and changes are implemented that affect the delivery of the program, they must be accompanied by an appropriate communication strategy. Policy Area 4: Monitoring, evaluation and review The information within this policy area is essential to ensuring screening programs are high-quality. Specifically, the following content outlines high-level policies to support national, state and territory, and operational level monitoring, evaluation and review. It articulates the need for indicators, which enable assessment of how well the programs meet their aim and objectives. It also outlines the need for a structured approach to ensure data are collected, reported and then used to inform program development. The data generated through monitoring, evaluation and review should be used to inform the steps articulated in Policy Area 3: Quality and safety; therefore, the two chapters should be read in parallel. Assessment of a program’s performance is essential for a number of reasons. First, governments and programs have an obligation to the individuals screened, and their families, to ensure that the programs continue to maximise benefits and minimise harms []. Second, governments require a program to remain effective and efficient. This requires continual assessment, as the factors that influence the viability of a program change over time. For example, the understanding of a condition can change, and new, more effective, interventions may emerge. Third, performance assessment is an essential part of the quality improvement process and therefore supports a highquality program []. Performance assessment is most effective when it occurs at all levels of a program []. In the context of newborn bloodspot screening, national monitoring provides a collective picture of the programs. It enables benchmarking and a framework within which programs can share successes and identify and manage areas of underperformance. Program-level assessment of performance is essential so that individual state and territory governments can assess the extent to which they are meeting their commitment to the public and the programs are delivering value for money. Operational-level assessment is essential to monitor and manage the functional aspects of a program. Across each of these levels, to gain an accurate understanding of the programs, it is necessary to consider trends to assess their performance over time [].
support horizon scanning to identify key issues facing the future of newborn bloodspot screening highlight strategic research priorities. Programs strive to innovate and have processes in place to identify and assess new ideas, integrate them into practice within their own program and assist with integration into other state and territory programs where appropriate. Where innovation approaches and changes are implemented that affect the delivery of the program, they must be accompanied by an appropriate communication strategy. Policy Area 4: Monitoring, evaluation and review The information within this policy area is essential to ensuring screening programs are high-quality. Specifically, the following content outlines high-level policies to support national, state and territory, and operational level monitoring, evaluation and review. It articulates the need for indicators, which enable assessment of how well the programs meet their aim and objectives. It also outlines the need for a structured approach to ensure data are collected, reported and then used to inform program development. The data generated through monitoring, evaluation and review should be used to inform the steps articulated in Policy Area 3: Quality and safety; therefore, the two chapters should be read in parallel. Assessment of a program’s performance is essential for a number of reasons. First, governments and programs have an obligation to the individuals screened, and their families, to ensure that the programs continue to maximise benefits and minimise harms []. Second, governments require a program to remain effective and efficient. This requires continual assessment, as the factors that influence the viability of a program change over time. For example, the understanding of a condition can change, and new, more effective, interventions may emerge. Third, performance assessment is an essential part of the quality improvement process and therefore supports a highquality program []. Performance assessment is most effective when it occurs at all levels of a program []. In the context of newborn bloodspot screening, national monitoring provides a collective picture of the programs. It enables benchmarking and a framework within which programs can share successes and identify and manage areas of underperformance. Program-level assessment of performance is essential so that individual state and territory governments can assess the extent to which they are meeting their commitment to the public and the programs are delivering value for money. Operational-level assessment is essential to monitor and manage the functional aspects of a program. Across each of these levels, to gain an accurate understanding of the programs, it is necessary to consider trends to assess their performance over time [].
21.5.18%20FINAL_Web%20accessible_ISBN_%20NBS%20National%20Policy%20Framework%20for%20pub....docx