Implementation of a Dedicated Intake Team Reduces Time to Massed PTSD Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Mental Health Treatment
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Quality healthcare is defined by safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, efficiency, equity, and timeliness.
• Clinical programs often lack rigorous evaluation methods and industry standards, impacting care delivery.
• Systemic barriers like long wait times and inequitable treatment hinder access to care for individuals with PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a redesigned clinic-wide intake process for a massed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program.
• To assess changes in treatment wait times and pre-treatment dropout rates following the intake redesign.

Main Methods:

• A clinic-wide intake process for a massed PTSD treatment program was redesigned.
• The intake responsibility shifted from all clinicians to a small, dedicated team.
• Outcomes measured included wait times for treatment decisions, time to program attendance, and pre-treatment dropout rates.

Main Results:

• The intake redesign led to significantly shorter wait times for treatment.
• Patients received acceptance/rejection decisions 1 week sooner and attended programs nearly 2 months sooner.
• A roughly 60% reduction in pre-treatment dropout was observed; however, disparities for certain groups remained.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated intake team can improve efficiency and reduce wait times in PTSD treatment programs.
• Continuous program evaluation is crucial for addressing quality healthcare goals and identifying persistent disparities.
• Further interventions may be needed to eliminate remaining inequities in access to PTSD treatment.