RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving Access to Tertiary Movement Disorders Subspecialty Care
JF Neurology: Clinical Practice
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 164
OP 168
DO 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001154
VO 12
IS 2
A1 Stephen C. Ross
A1 Venkata Jakkampudi
A1 William Jens
A1 Kimberly Barbush
A1 Krishnankutty Sathian
A1 Xuemei Huang
YR 2022
UL http://cp.neurology.org/content/12/2/164.abstract
AB Patient demand continues to outpace growth of the neurology workforce, especially in its subspecialties such as movement disorders. Various strategies have been deployed to address this. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accentuated the mismatch by propelling telemedicine and access demands to the forefront. Previously, we reported improving general neurology access using a physician-advanced practice provider team model. Here, we share our experiences of piloting a similar model in subspecialty care (movement disorders) between September 1 and December 17, 2020. Before the pilot, the wait time to be seen by movement disorders subspecialists exceeded 4 months. Our data show marked improvement in new patient access (23.8% improvement and 214% increase in the number of new patients seen) with excellent patient acceptance. Our approach and the lessons learned may be useful to address access for other neurology subspecialties.