Improving Access to Diagnostic Evaluations for Developmental Disabilities Through an Initial Assessment Model.

J Dev Behav Pediatr

Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO.

Published: June 2023

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a novel model of care to improve access to diagnostic evaluations for autism spectrum disorder and/or developmental delays for school-age children.

Methods: An "initial assessment" (IA) model for children aged 7 to 9 years was implemented at a large regional pediatric hospital. Referral patterns and the number of patients evaluated with the IA model were obtained through the electronic health record (EHR). Referral patterns from the EHR were checked against clinician surveys.

Results: Total IA volume had a strong negative association with school-age WL volume ( r (22) = -0.92, p < 0.001), indicating that as IA volume increased, the WL volume declined. Evaluation of referral patterns after IAs revealed that approximately 1 in 3 children seen for IA did not require further evaluation and could be immediately removed from the WL.

Conclusion: Results indicate that implementation of a novel IA model was strongly associated with a decrease in WL volume for neurodevelopmental evaluations of school-age children. These findings support a "right-fit" approach to optimize clinical resources and improve access to neurodevelopmental evaluations.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000001190DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

referral patterns
12
access diagnostic
8
diagnostic evaluations
8
novel model
8
improve access
8
neurodevelopmental evaluations
8
model
5
volume
5
improving access
4
evaluations
4

Similar Publications

Objective: Adolescents encounter numerous healthcare access barriers, leading to poor health outcomes. Researchers developed the Total Teen (TT) program to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and mental health (MH) services in settings providing adolescents and young adults (12-25) health services. This pilot study assessed the TT's impact on care across three settings: school-based health clinics, a federally qualified health center, and an adolescent health clinic for 12 weeks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: This study examined mental health literacy and predictors of disorder recognition among primary care providers (PCPs) in Hungary.

Methods: 208 PCPs in Hungary completed a survey assessing demographics, mental health stigma, and exposure to mental health (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: The objective of this study was to examine orthodontic treatment of patients with disabilities in Norway, as perceived by orthodontists.

Methods And Results: A digital questionnaire was sent out to the 220 registered members of the Norwegian Orthodontic Society and a response rate of 41% (n = 90) was achieved. The majority (92%) had received referrals for patients with disabilities, 53% reported treating up to 10 patients, while 37% reported treating up to 50 patients in the last 5 years.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A case of severe TBI: Recovery?

Appl Neuropsychol Child

January 2025

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA.

Chronic stage neuropsychological assessments of children with severe TBI typically center around a referral question and focus on assessing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning, making differential diagnoses, and planning treatment. When severe TBI-related neurological deficits are subtle and fall outside commonly assessed behavioral indicators, as can happen with theory of mind and social information processing, they can go unobserved and subsequently fail to be assessed. Additionally, should chronic stage cognitive, behavioral, and emotional assessment findings fall within the average to above average range, a child experiencing ongoing significant unassessed severe TBI-related subtle deficits could be mistakenly judged to have "recovered" from their injury; and to be experiencing no significant ongoing residual neurological deficits.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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!