This resource outlines specific guidance for optimizing EHRs and health IT tools commonly used by health centers to support the monitoring, reporting, and addressing childhood obesity.

The HITEQ Center interviewed ten health centers and health center partners to identify solutions and promising practices for addressing childhood obesity across the health center program. The focus included how health centers are meeting the Uniform Data System (UDS) measure and how they are taking further steps to identify and intervene with those at risk of obesity leveraging health information technology, electronic health records, and the data they have. Seven key areas are identified in the resulting issue brief.

This webinar focused on how to improve child weight screening, nutrition and physical activity counselling, and design appropriate and meaningful interventions according to health center peers. Discussion and demonstrations of how you may be able to optimize your EHR to encourage accurate and complete collection of required data, and identify children who may need intervention also took place.  A number of tools that support this quality improvement around addressing child weight and potential for obesity were discussed, including Bright Futures guidance and data validation tools from HITEQ.

During this Bright Futures webinar presented by HRSA, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Obesity Leadership Workgroup addressed these topics:

• Key components of a comprehensive obesity assessment (for patients ages 2-21) in the context of a well visit
• Ways to engage patients and families in treatment
• Obesity-specific family history, physical exam and review of systems
• Potential laboratory and diagnostic tests for those at risk of co-morbidities
• Key Bright Futures anticipatory guidance

During this recorded webinar, HRSA offered an opportunity for providers to learn about childhood obesity prevention:

• Why are the first five years of life critically important from an early obesity prevention perspective?
• How can health care providers support families in establishing and maintaining healthy, active living-related behaviors?

Dr. Sandra G. Hassink, previous president of the American Academy of Pediatrics and internationally recognized expert in child obesity prevention, discussed key anticipatory guidance and counseling techniques and desired actions (for the health care provider and parent). She also highlighted tools and resources to support implementation.

During this recorded webinar you will learn about the Bright Futures National Center (BFNC) and the revised Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th Edition, from one of its co-editors. During this HRSA-sponsored webinar, a subject matter expert reviewed updates to the Guidelines and new content, including new health promotion themes, visit screening recommendations, anticipatory guidance, and more. She discussed how to efficiently and effectively integrate these new recommendations into your health center’s work and answered questions about the BFNC and Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th Edition.

Note: Recordings of these webinars are no longer available, but slides {and/or transcripts} are available below.