Topic / Waitlist / Last Review Date / 06/22/16
CARF Standards / 2.B.8 / Last Revision Date / 11/17/12
Purpose / To ensure needed services are being provided in a timely manner
1.The waitlist of referrals that are waiting to be assigned to a clinician will be maintained in the client database and will include the date of the referral and clinical needs.
2.The waitlist is automatically updated as new referrals that are assigned a “waiting” status are added to the database.
3.When a referral is assigned a “waiting” status, the Referral Coordinator notifies the referral source or client/caregiver and documents this communication on the Referral Form.
4.If a referral is determined to have an urgent or critical need and an appropriate clinician is not available to schedule an intake appointment within 48 hours, the referral source is contacted and another agency is recommended. This information is documented on the Referral Form.
5.The Referral Coordinator reviews the waitlist on a daily basis and actively attempts to identify appropriate staff available to take referrals on the waitlist through phone calls and/or emails to individual clinicians and/or emailing the list of waiting client to all clinicians.
6.On a monthly basis, the Referral Coordinator identifies those referrals that have been on the waitlist for over 30 days and contacts the referral source or client/caregiver to notify of continued attempts to assign a clinician, notify them of other resources available, and determine if urgency for services has increased or if services are no longer needed. If the client does not have any support services, the client/parent will be offered a referral to a case management agency. This contact will be documented on the Referral Form.
7.All communication with referral sources or clients/caregivers regarding referrals is documented on the Referral Form, or Referral Activity Form, if additional space is needed.
8.The Referral Coordinator notifies the Program Manager andClinical Director when there is a need to hire additional clinicians, noting the type of clinician (e.g., therapist, behavior analyst, licensed, certified) and geographic area needed. The Clinical Director will recruit and hire clinicians as needed.
2.B.8.a / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization documents the person's date of placement on the list and identified needs / Waitlist2.B.8.b.(1) / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization maintains current waiting list information through ongoing review and updating of the list / Waitlist
2.B.8.c / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization documents all contacts with the persons on the waiting list / Waitlist
2.B.8.d.(1) / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization responds to long-term waiting lists through strategic or community-based planning / Waitlist
2.B.8.d.(2) / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization responds to long-term waiting lists through involvement of support services / Waitlist
2.B.8.d.(3) / If a waiting list is maintained, the organization responds to long-term waiting lists through referral to available services/community supports / Waitlist
Program Operation - Waitlist