Improving Efficiency and Quality of the Children’s ASD Diagnostic Pathway: Lessons Learned from Practice

• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3415-7
• Publication Date: 2017-11-30T01:02:47Z
• Authors: Marion Rutherford; Morag Burns; Duncan Gray; Lynne Bremner; Sarah Clegg; Lucy Russell; Charlie Smith; Anne O’Hare
• Keywords: Limiting; Guideline; Action plan; Evidence-Based Practice

The 'autism diagnosis crisis' and long waiting times for assessment are as yet unresolved, leading to undue stress limiting access effective support. There is therefore a significant need evidence support practitioners in the development of efficient services, delivering acceptable effectively meeting guideline standards. This study reports statistically reductions autism diagnostic following children's health service improvement programme. average wait between referral first appointment reduced from 14.2 10.4 weeks (t(21) = 4.3, p < 0.05) shared, 270 122.5 days, (t(20) 5.5, 0.05). proportion girls identified increased 5.6 2.7:1. Methods reported include: local action planning; based pathways; systematic clinical data gathering training plan. highly finding many services wrestling with challenges demand capacity assessment.