ArticleBMC health services research2016
Central intake to improve access to physiotherapy for children with complex needs: a mixed methods case report.
Article in BMC health services research, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Service redesign interventions to reduce waiting time for paediatric rehabilitation and therapy services: A systematic review of the literature.Health & social care in the community · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Challenges and solutions to effective stewardship of rehabilitation services: a scoping review.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Centralized Intake Models and Recommendations for Their Use in Non-Acute Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Strategies to Increase Access to Outpatient Physiotherapy Services: A Scoping Review.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2022Article
- Impact of Central Intake Development and System Change on Per Capita Child and Adolescent Mental Health Discharges from 2002 to 2017: Implications for Optimizing System Design by Shaping Demand.The Permanente journal · 2019Article
- "My Quality of Life is Not There. I'm Dying Here. I Cannot Take This Anymore." Exploring Patient Experiences With Surgical Wait Times in Otolaryngology: A Mixed Methods Study.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-facialeArticle
- A Qualitative Study on the Role of Single-Entry Models in Managing Surgical Backlogs in Pediatric Otolaryngology Part 1: Investigating Perceptions of Referring Physicians and Otolaryngologists.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-facialeArticle
- A Qualitative Study on the Role of Single-Entry Models in Managing Surgical Backlogs in Pediatric Otolaryngology Part 2: Investigating Perceptions of Patients and Their Caregivers.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-facialeArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChildren with complex needs can face barriers to system access and navigation related to their need for multiple services and healthcare providers. Central intake for pediatric rehabilitation was developed and implemented in 2008 in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada as a means to enhance service coordination and access for children and their families. This study evaluates the process and impact of implementing a central intake system, using pediatric physiotherapy as a case example.
methodsA mixed methods instrumental case study design was used. Interviews were completed with 9 individuals. Data was transcribed and analyzed for themes. Quantitative data (wait times, referral volume and caregiver satisfaction) was collected for children referred to physiotherapy with complex needs (n = 1399), and a comparison group of children referred for orthopedic concerns (n = 3901). Wait times were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, caregiver satisfaction was analyzed using Fisher exact test and change point modeling was applied to examine referral volume over the study period.
resultsInterview participants described central intake implementation as creating more streamlined processes. Factors that facilitated successful implementation included 1) agreement among stakeholders, 2) hiring of a central intake coordinator, 3) a financial commitment from the government and 4) leadership at the individual and organization level. Mean (sd) wait times improved for children with complex needs (12.3(13.1) to 8.0(6.9) days from referral to contact with family, p < 0.0001; 29.8(17.9) to 24.3(17.0) days from referral to appointment, p < 0.0001) while referral volumes remained consistent. A small but significant increase in wait times was observed for the comparison group (9.6(8.6) to 10.1(6.6) days from referral to contact with family, p < 0.001; 20.4(14.3) to 22.1(13.1) days from referral to appointment, p < 0.0001), accompanied by an increasing referral volume for this group. Caregiver satisfaction remained high throughout the process (p = 0.48).
conclusionsCentral intake implementation achieved the intended outcomes of streamlining processes and improving transparency and access to pediatric physiotherapy (i.e., decreasing wait times) for families of children with complex needs. Future research is needed to build on this single discipline case study approach to examine changes in wait times, therapy coordination and stakeholder satisfaction within the context of continuing improvements for pediatric therapy services within the province.
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