Improving Pediatric Primary Care Providers' Knowledge of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Through a Phone...

Developmental behavioral concerns comprise a large proportion of referrals in primary care. Access to Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics' (DBP) expertise is limited, with long wait-times to access care. We describe usage of a new DBP phone consult line, regarding diagnostic questions, recommended resources, and to assess contribution to pediatric primary care providers' (PCPs) knowledge and confidence in managing developmental and behavioral issues.

This study has 2 components: (1) A retrospective review of consultation call-records between July 2023 to December 2025, describing utilization of DBP call line, including demographics, diagnostic questions, types of recommendations, and contribution to expediting appropriate interventions. (2) A prospective PCP survey to determine PCP satisfaction with recommendations and perceived learning of new information and skills for the management of DBP concerns.

A total of 362 consultations were completed. The average wait time for consultation was 10.7 days, significantly shorter than typical in-person DBP assessment wait times (averaging a year or more). Consultations addressed a broad range of developmental and behavioral concerns, and provided guidance on diagnosis, management, and care coordination. Most patients (85.7%) accessed appropriate interventions without or before referral. PCPs reported high satisfaction (89.7%) and learning new information applicable to future patients (79.3%).

A new DBP phone consultation line improves timely access to DBP expertise. It facilitates collaborations between PCPs and DBPs to support PCP clinical decision-making. In addition to decreasing delays in accessing interventions, this model aligns with adult learning principles, to yield high provider satisfaction, enabling PCPs to apply newly acquired knowledge to future patient care.