Enhancing Diagnostic Follow-Up and Care Coordination for Children with Autism in a Busy Resident Continuity Clinic: Leveraging the Electronic Health Record
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| Title: | Enhancing Diagnostic Follow-Up and Care Coordination for Children with Autism in a Busy Resident Continuity Clinic: Leveraging the Electronic Health Record |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Laleh Bahrami, Cara T. Miller, Holly Miller, Kathryn L. Carlson, Tori E. Foster, Abhinaya Ganesh, David Johnson, Barron L. Patterson, Jeffrey F. Hine |
| Source: | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2025 55(3):904-912. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 9 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | UL1TR000445 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Children, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intervention, Residential Care, Health Services, Clinical Diagnosis |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-024-06253-1 |
| ISSN: | 0162-3257 1573-3432 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: A high-quality primary care clinic should provide clear action points and important care coordination for a child receiving a new diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Unfortunately, a substantial proportion of caregivers report little-to-no post-diagnosis support from their home clinics and primary care providers often report lack of training and resources in providing these supports. Methods: We implemented an intervention package to investigate the impact on the frequency and quality of follow-up care for children with ASD in a busy, high-volume resident continuity clinic. The package consisted of a care coordination scheduling pathway and a standardized clinical template--embedded in the electronic health record (EHR)--that guided providers through best-practice recommendations and patient resources. Results: As a result of these interventions, 74% of patients had ASD-specific follow-up, a more than threefold increase from baseline with a majority of providers using the EHR-embedded template to guide their visit. Providers also indicated a high degree of usability for the system and that it aided them in following best-practice guidelines for ASD care. Conclusion: Through explicit scheduling pathways and a novel EHR template, we saw a significant increase in ASD-specific follow-up visits and implementation of best practices for ASD care, demonstrating a new process for training and engaging primary care providers in clear action steps for post-diagnostic care without having to rely on tertiary referrals. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1460777 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Purpose: A high-quality primary care clinic should provide clear action points and important care coordination for a child receiving a new diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Unfortunately, a substantial proportion of caregivers report little-to-no post-diagnosis support from their home clinics and primary care providers often report lack of training and resources in providing these supports. Methods: We implemented an intervention package to investigate the impact on the frequency and quality of follow-up care for children with ASD in a busy, high-volume resident continuity clinic. The package consisted of a care coordination scheduling pathway and a standardized clinical template--embedded in the electronic health record (EHR)--that guided providers through best-practice recommendations and patient resources. Results: As a result of these interventions, 74% of patients had ASD-specific follow-up, a more than threefold increase from baseline with a majority of providers using the EHR-embedded template to guide their visit. Providers also indicated a high degree of usability for the system and that it aided them in following best-practice guidelines for ASD care. Conclusion: Through explicit scheduling pathways and a novel EHR template, we saw a significant increase in ASD-specific follow-up visits and implementation of best practices for ASD care, demonstrating a new process for training and engaging primary care providers in clear action steps for post-diagnostic care without having to rely on tertiary referrals. |
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| ISSN: | 0162-3257 1573-3432 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-024-06253-1 |
