A Collaborative Psychiatric-Genetics Inpatient Care Delivery Model Improves Access to Clinical Genetic Evaluation, Testing, and Diagnosis for Patients With Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and global developmental delay are among the most common indications for referral to clinical genetics evaluation; and clinical genetic testing is indicated for people with neurodevelopmental disorders. There are known barriers to care in accessing clinical genetics evaluation for this patient population. We created a collaborative psychiatric-genetics consultation service and psychiatric-genetics outpatient clinic with the goal to improve care delivery to patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Two years after the launch of this pilot program, our data demonstrate improved access to genetics evaluation with shorter wait times and fewer patients lost to follow-up. Perhaps most importantly, new genetic diagnoses changed medical care for the majority of patients.

Automated summary

Neurodevelopmental disorders often face barriers in accessing clinical genetics evaluation and testing. However, the establishment of a collaborative psychiatric-genetics consultation service and outpatient clinic has significantly improved care delivery for patients with these disorders. Two years after its launch, this pilot program has shown improved access to genetics evaluation, shorter wait times, and decreased loss to follow-up. Importantly, new genetic diagnoses have resulted in changes in medical care for the majority of patients.