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February 28, 2026BMJ Open Quality1 citationsOpen Access

Reducing Wait Times for Outpatient Mental Healthcare in Urban Hospitals

Reducing wait times for hospital-based outpatient mental healthcare: what works?

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Authors

HOHeather OneschukATAmanda TuckermanCACarly Archer

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Overview

Quality improvement project reduces wait times in outpatient mental health referrals, suggesting effective strategies for healthcare systems.

Key Points

  • This project aims to reduce wait times and resolve backlogged referrals for outpatient mental healthcare services.
  • Process mapping of GAAMHS components was conducted.
  • An Ishikawa diagram identified factors contributing to the backlog.
  • Quality improvement ideas were proposed and tested using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles.
  • Interventions included reassessing patient needs and standardizing service delivery practices.
  • Backlogged referrals were resolved in a median of 5.3 months.
  • Average consultations per psychiatrist increased from 10.3 to 18.8 between 2020 and 2023.
  • Median wait times for new referrals decreased to 102 days by December 2023.

Cite This Study

Oneschuk et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a2877b0a974eb0d3c03425https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2024-003031
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1The Appropriateness and End Outcomes of Urgent Referrals to Outpatient General Adult Psychiatry2024
  2. 2Poster Session I - A137 FROM REFERRAL TO RELIEF: IMPROVING WAIT TIMES FOR URGENT GASTROENTEROLOGY CONSULTATION IN CALGARY2026
  3. 3A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners’ perspectives on wait times for adolescent mental health specialists and services in Australia2026
  4. 4Advice and Guidance in Mental Health: A Transformational Approach2024
  5. 5Project Whiteboard: A Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Patient Flow in an Acute Mental Health Setting2024