Embedding Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis Within the Medical Home: Decreasing Wait Times Through Streamlined...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Child Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Long wait times for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis hinder early intervention.
• Current diagnostic pathways often involve lengthy delays in specialized clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of embedded diagnostic consultations within primary care settings.
• To assess the impact of a streamlined diagnostic model on access to ASD assessment.

Main Methods:

• A streamlined diagnostic model was implemented in primary care clinics.
• 119 children with ASD concerns were evaluated over 14 months.
• Diagnostic clarity and time to diagnosis were tracked.

Main Results:

• Diagnostic clarity was achieved for 59% of children through streamlined assessment.
• The median time from initial concern to diagnosis was 55 days.
• The median age at diagnosis was 32 months, significantly lower than national averages.

Conclusions:

• Embedded diagnostic processes within primary care are effective for efficient ASD triage and diagnosis.
• This model successfully bypasses common barriers to accessing specialized diagnostic services.
• Integrating diagnostic services into the medical home improves timely identification of autism spectrum disorder.