Kathleen Conroy1,2, Corinna Rea3,2, Gabriella Ika Kovacikova4, Eli Sprecher3,2, Ellen Reisinger3, Hannah Durant3, Amy Starmer3,2, Joanne Cox3,2, Sara L Toomey3,2. 1. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; kathleen.conroy@childrens.harvard.edu. 2. Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; and. 3. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. 4. Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Timely provision of developmental services can improve outcomes for children 0 to 3 years old with developmental delays. Early Intervention (EI) provides free developmental services to children under age 3 years; however, data suggests that many children referred to EI never connect to the program. We sought to ensure that 70% of patients referred to EI from an academic primary care clinic serving a low-income population were evaluated within 120 days of referral. METHODS: Recognizing that our baseline system of EI referrals had multiple routes to referral without an ability to track referral outcome, we implemented a multifaceted referral process with (1) a centralized electronic referral system used by providers, (2) patient navigators responsible for processing all EI referrals submitted by providers, and (3) a tracking system postreferral to facilitate identification of patients failing to connect with EI. RESULTS: The percentage of patients evaluated by EI within 120 days increased from a baseline median of 50% to a median of 72% after implementation of the systems (N = 309). After implementation, the centralized referral system was used a median of 90% of the time. Tracking of referral outcomes revealed decreases in families refusing evaluations and improvements in exchange of information with EI. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of connection to EI improved substantially when referrals were centralized in the clinic and patient navigators were responsible for tracking referral outcomes. Knowledge of EI intake processes and relationships between the practice and the EI site are essential to ensure successful connections.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Timely provision of developmental services can improve outcomes for children 0 to 3 years old with developmental delays. Early Intervention (EI) provides free developmental services to children under age 3 years; however, data suggests that many children referred to EI never connect to the program. We sought to ensure that 70% of patients referred to EI from an academic primary care clinic serving a low-income population were evaluated within 120 days of referral. METHODS: Recognizing that our baseline system of EI referrals had multiple routes to referral without an ability to track referral outcome, we implemented a multifaceted referral process with (1) a centralized electronic referral system used by providers, (2) patient navigators responsible for processing all EI referrals submitted by providers, and (3) a tracking system postreferral to facilitate identification of patients failing to connect with EI. RESULTS: The percentage of patients evaluated by EI within 120 days increased from a baseline median of 50% to a median of 72% after implementation of the systems (N = 309). After implementation, the centralized referral system was used a median of 90% of the time. Tracking of referral outcomes revealed decreases in families refusing evaluations and improvements in exchange of information with EI. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of connection to EI improved substantially when referrals were centralized in the clinic and patient navigators were responsible for tracking referral outcomes. Knowledge of EI intake processes and relationships between the practice and the EI site are essential to ensure successful connections.
Authors: Snehal Murthy; Laurel Haeusslein; Stephen Bent; Elizabeth Fitelson; Linda S Franck; Christina Mangurian Journal: J Perinatol Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 2.521
Authors: Kalyani Vijaykumar Mulay; Ramkumar Aishworiya; Tammy S H Lim; Mae Yue Tan; Jennifer S H Kiing; Shang Chee Chong; Ying Qi Kang Journal: Pediatr Neonatol Date: 2020-09-07 Impact factor: 2.083