IMPLEMENTATION OF A PEDIATRIC PATIENT NAVIGATOR FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Nearly 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from a mental health condition, with most of these diagnoses beginning in childhood and adolescence. Few children and youth with developmental and mental health conditions have adequate access to necessary clinical, community and social services. Patient navigator programs can bridge this gap by facilitating connections to social services, supporting family coping strategies and advocating for patient clinical services, yet there remain few programs in Canada for this patient population. OBJECTIVES To use a health behaviour change paradigm to develop and implement a paediatric patient navigator program for vulnerable children and youth living in a large urban centre in Canada DESIGN/METHODS A needs assessment was performed to identify navigation needs from the perspective of paediatric healthcare providers in an urban, inner-city district in Canada. Using these results, a referral and intake form were developed and pilot tested. To change provider behaviour with respect to utilization of the new navigation service, all providers, including paediatricians and allied health, participated in a workshop prior to implementation of the referral program and text reminders were posted throughout the clinic. RESULTS Patient navigation to access therapy services for children with developmental or mental health conditions, community services and assistance with completing funding information were identified as key services a paediatric patient navigator should offer. Participation in the workshop resulted in a significant increase in knowledge uptake for the role of the patient navigator and the referral process (p=0.01, 2-tailed T-test). 51 new referrals were received within one month of launching the paediatric patient navigation program, of which only 2 did not meet criteria CONCLUSION Patient navigation for children and youth with developmental and mental health diagnoses can be successfully implemented in an inner-city setting in a large urban centre. More research is needed to demonstrate the impact of patient navigation on patient health outcomes.