Mainstreaming general genetics referrals: measuring the impact on wait times in a general genetics practice

Examine the impact of mainstreaming on wait times for test results among general genetics referrals over a one-year period.

We reviewed the charts of patients referred to a general genetics practice at an academic tertiary-care center over the one-year periods before and after the implementation of mainstreaming. The pre- and post-implementation referrals were each divided into two groups: mainstream-eligible and mainstream-ineligible patients. Quantile regression models were fit to estimate the difference in the median number of days between the dates of referral and test results disclosure for the overall pre and post groups; the mainstream-eligible, pre and post groups; and the mainstream-ineligible, pre and post groups.

There was a significant decrease overall in the median number of days between referral and results disclosure following the implementation of mainstreaming (estimated difference in medians = 69 days, 95% CI: 37, 101). A similar pattern was observed for both the mainstream-eligible (estimated difference = 69 days, 95% CI: 23, 115) and mainstream-ineligible groups (estimated difference = 74 days, 95% CI: 36, 112).

Mainstreaming offers a novel solution to significantly reduce wait times to genetic test results disclosure for general genetics referrals.