Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate a novel model of care to improve access to diagnostic evaluations for autism spectrum disorder and/or developmental delays for school-age children.
Methods:
An “initial assessment” (IA) model for children aged 7 to 9 years was implemented at a large regional pediatric hospital. Referral patterns and the number of patients evaluated with the IA model were obtained through the electronic health record (EHR). Referral patterns from the EHR were checked against clinician surveys.
Results:
Total IA volume had a strong negative association with school-age WL volume (r(22) = −0.92, p