Improving Wait Times for Pediatric Neuropsychology Services. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cass, Jennifer; Fristad, Mary; Valleru, Jahnavi; Gallup, James; Butter, Eric
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based practice in child and adolescent mental health. Volume 5:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; 618.9289
• DOI: 10.1080/23794925.2020.1784057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-4925

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Pediatric neuropsychological assessment services can clarify diagnosis and treatment recommendations and promote improved child and family functioning and long-term outcomes. However, wait times for services tend to be long, in some cases up to a year. We initiated a quality improvement project within a Midwestern pediatric tertiary academic health center with the goal of decreasing wait times from 140 to 30 days. Successful interventions focused on changes to scheduling and our clinical model of care. The addition of staff helped to manage increased referral volumes and maintain lower wait times. Through quality improvement methods the wait time for a first neuropsychology appointment decreased by 65%, from 140 to 46 days. Variability in wait times also decreased significantly, from 77 to 38 days. While not directly measured, these changes led to anecdotal reports of increased satisfaction of patients and referring providers as well as our neuropsychology clinical and administrative staff. Improved wait times can support expansion into other models of care, further reaching underserved populations, and moving specialty neuropsychology services toward a preventative model of care. Decreased wait times and use of innovative and integrated care models are anticipated to positively impact child outcomes, service utilization, and health-care savings.