Waitlist management in a pediatric weight management clinic: implementing an orientation session.

BMC Pediatr

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 50 North Dunlap Street, Room 453R, TN, 38103, Memphis, USA.

Published: September 2021

Background: This study evaluates implementation of an orientation session to address a waitlist of more than 2000 referrals to a pediatric weight management clinic in the Mid-South United States.

Methods: An hour-long group-based orientation to the pediatric weight management clinic was implemented to provide information about the structure and expectations of the clinic as well as education on healthy lifestyle recommendations. Families were contacted from the waitlist by telephone and invited to attend an orientation session prior to scheduling a clinic appointment.

Results: Of 2251 patients contacted from the waitlist, 768 scheduled an orientation session, of which 264 (34 %) attended. Of the 264 orientation participants, 246 (93 %) scheduled a clinic appointment. Of those, 193 (79 %) completed a clinic visit. Waitlist times decreased from 297.8 ± 219.4 days prior to implementation of orientation sessions to 104.1 ± 219.4 days after.

Conclusions: Orientation has been an effective and efficient way to triage patient referrals while maximizing attendance in limited clinic slots for patients and families demonstrating interest and motivation. Elements of this approach are likely generalizable to other pediatric clinical settings that must strategically manage a large volume of patient referrals.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8456555PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02868-wDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pediatric weight
12
weight management
12
management clinic
12
orientation session
12
clinic
8
implementation orientation
8
contacted waitlist
8
patient referrals
8
orientation
7
waitlist
5

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!