Early Autism Detection and Referral in the Medical Home

Project Overview:

Twelve primary care practices along the Wasatch Front will participate in a 6-month Learning Collaborative focused on improving the early identification and referral of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a medical home environment. (Practices not along the Wasatch Front will be recruited in 2010 to participate in Part II of this project.)

The Collaborative will begin with an initial assessment of current practice, followed by a day-long Learning Session on Friday, June 12th at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus in Sandy.

The session will include a summary of the evidence and best practice, tools related to autism screening and referral, core components of a medical home, and training in process improvement. During the subsequent 6 months, UPIQ will provide ongoing technical support, monthly conference calls, web-based information, help with periodic assessments of progress, and conduct site visits to each participating practice.

Participants will be expected to:

learn the signs of autism spectrum disorders (ASD);
perform ASD/DD screening during ALL 18-month and 24- or 30-month well visits;
develop a registry of children with ASD/DD;
implement a medical home approach for children with ASD and their families; and
identify and partner with a parent in the practice.

Project Faculty:

Paul Carbone, MD
Sandra DeBry, MBA
Rebecca Giles, MPH, CHES
Chuck Norlin, MD
Harper Randall, MD
Steven Stead, DDS
Barbara Ward, RN
Holly Williams, RN, MS
Duane Yamashiro, DDS

Registration:

Please contact Sandra DeBry at (801) 587-3023.