STAT-MD Training

Early identification of ASD for pediatric health care providers

STAT-MD Training is designed to teach enhanced diagnostic consultation and screening procedures to pediatric medical providers serving young children. These two-day workshops provide training in conducting autism-focused assessments with children between 18 and 36 months of age. Training components include:

• Performing interactive screening with the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
• Conducting developmentally sensitive caregiver interviews
• Formulating diagnostic impressions and communicating them to caregivers
• Identifying appropriate billing and coding procedures

Overview

This program was developed through a partnership of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND), in response to AAP guidelines mandating ASD screening at 18 and 24 months. While many tools are widely available for preliminary screening, waits for appropriate diagnostic services and early intervention services following positive screens are often in excess of 6-12 months. The STAT-MD program provides a mechanism for pediatric clinicians to incorporate diagnostic consultation into their own practices within a time sensitive framework (i.e., 1 hour expanded consultation).

Preliminary evaluation results of this training program have been published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. Findings suggest that incorporating enhanced diagnostic screening based on the STAT-MD model can help accurately identify approximately 3/4 of young children with autism referred for evaluation.

Currently, the Vanderbilt team is expanding this training model, with trainings in West and East Tennessee, in order to develop a state-wide network of pediatricians capable of identifying autism concerns and initiating appropriate early intervention services without prolonged waits.

STAT-MD trainings are offered at Vanderbilt and STAT-MD trainers are available to provide training on site to specific practices. CME credits (up to 13.0 hours) will be provided through the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for on-site trainings.

STAT-MD Authors:

Quentin Humberd, M.D., FAAP
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician
Associate Clinical Professor in Pediatrics
Medical Director, Screening Tools and Referral Training (START) Program
Tennessee Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Wendy Stone, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington
Director, Research in Early Autism Detection and Intervention (READi) Lab

Zachary Warren, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD)
Associate Professor in Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Special Education