Healthcare professionals recognize newborn screening process has glitches.
"The recent adoption of widespread screening of newborns for congenital health problems is saving thousands of lives every year, identifying potentially deadly conditions in time to begin treatment."
However, "healthcare professionals [now] recognize that success has highlighted glitches in the system."
This practice "has meant more potential for erroneous test results and misdiagnoses, causing needless angst for parents."
"Doctors and hospital officials...are often ill-informed about the diseases that are screened for and how they are treated." In addition, parents often "get little follow-up" once diagnoses are confirmed.
"To improve the screening process, health providers and government officials are starting to expand beyond the push for more screening to also address shortcomings in the entire system."
For instance, "the American College of Medical Genetics' website offers a series of...ACT Sheets, which walk...[physicians] through what to do when a baby screens positive for a rare condition."
Furthermore, confirming diagnoses has become paramount. Some "medical centers that conduct 'second-tier' tests to check results are getting inquiries from around the country about expanding the use of such tests before informing pediatricians or parents."
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