June Austin1, Patricia Manning-Courtney2, Meghan L Johnson3, Rachel Weber1, Heather Johnson4, Donna Murray5, Karen Ratliff-Schaub6, Abbey Marquette Tadlock1, Mark Murray1. 1. Mark Murray and Associates, Sacramento, California; 2. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; patty.manning@cchmc.org. 3. National Institute for Children's Health Quality, Cambridge, Massachusetts; 4. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; 5. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, New York, New York; and. 6. Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is steadily increasing and placing more demands on already overburdened diagnostic and treatment systems. A thoughtful, systematic reorganization of autism service delivery may reduce delays and better meet the growing need. METHODS: Two clinical centers in the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), undertook a year-long access improvement project to reduce delays to care by using system analysis to identify sources of delay and to target changes by using a set of defined access principles. Although both sites addressed access, they focused on slightly different targets (reducing number of patients with autism spectrum disorders waiting for follow-up appointments at NCH and reducing delay to new diagnosis at CCHMC). RESULTS: Both sites achieved dramatic improvements in their complex, multidisciplinary systems. A 94% reduction in number of patients on the waitlist from 99 to 6 patients and a 22% reduction in median delay for a new ongoing care appointment were realized at NCH. A 94% reduction in third next available appointment for new physician visits for children 3 to 5 years old was realized at CCHMC. CONCLUSIONS: This article demonstrates that 2 different clinical systems improved access to care for autism diagnosis and follow-up care by identifying sources of delay and using targeted changes based on a set of access change principles. With appropriate guidance and data analysis, improvements in access can be made.
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is steadily increasing and placing more demands on already overburdened diagnostic and treatment systems. A thoughtful, systematic reorganization of autism service delivery may reduce delays and better meet the growing need. METHODS: Two clinical centers in the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), undertook a year-long access improvement project to reduce delays to care by using system analysis to identify sources of delay and to target changes by using a set of defined access principles. Although both sites addressed access, they focused on slightly different targets (reducing number of patients with autism spectrum disorders waiting for follow-up appointments at NCH and reducing delay to new diagnosis at CCHMC). RESULTS: Both sites achieved dramatic improvements in their complex, multidisciplinary systems. A 94% reduction in number of patients on the waitlist from 99 to 6 patients and a 22% reduction in median delay for a new ongoing care appointment were realized at NCH. A 94% reduction in third next available appointment for new physician visits for children 3 to 5 years old was realized at CCHMC. CONCLUSIONS: This article demonstrates that 2 different clinical systems improved access to care for autism diagnosis and follow-up care by identifying sources of delay and using targeted changes based on a set of access change principles. With appropriate guidance and data analysis, improvements in access can be made.
Authors: Ryan K McBain; Vishnupriya Kareddy; Jonathan H Cantor; Bradley D Stein; Hao Yu Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2019-05-29 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Anne B Arnett; Brianna E Cairney; Arianne S Wallace; Jennifer Gerdts; Tychele N Turner; Evan E Eichler; Raphael A Bernier Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2017-09-18 Impact factor: 8.982
Authors: Nate Tyler Stockham; Kelley M Paskov; Kevin Tabatabaei; Soren Sutaria; Bennett Liu; Jack Kent; Dennis P Wall Journal: AMIA Annu Symp Proc Date: 2022-05-23