Screening will affect everyone in the practice. At the most fundamental level, the practice flow for using a validated parental survey involves the following steps.
Parent receives and completes the survey
- Clipboard, pen, and survey delivered by office staff trained to explain it
- Language- and age-appropriate version required; parents with literacy needs have questions read to them
- Parent completes survey before provider enters the exam room
Provider or trained staff interprets the results and refers the patient for further screening if indicated
- Provider or office staff scores the survey in conjunction with routine parent interview and follow-up questions as needed
- Provider interprets or confers about the results
- Provider refers patients for evaluation, offers follow-up screen (autism screen, social-emotional screen, etc.), or offers further counseling as needed
Office staff document the results and assist with follow-up
- Staff files results in patient’s medical record
- Staff organizes resources in advance, including handouts, clipboards and surveys
- Staff hands out numbers for services, instructions on how to access mental health and school systems, behavior management guidelines, and lists of relevant books