Clinical Outcomes

In addition to launching our own robust data system through the Hopebridge Assessment Platform, we also joined other organizations to support the launch of the National Autism Data Registry (NADR). First of its kind, the NADR tracks and reports longitudinal benchmarks on quality of applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment measures across providers, which transforms the way the field analyzes and enhances services.

Data show an ASD Quality Index Score of 151 for Hopebridge, which is 11% higher than that of the average provider. This puts Hopebridge in the top 1% of providers that contribute to NADR¹. To determine the score, NADR takes into consideration age- and norm-referenced assessment scores, family quality of life assessments, timeliness of care and cost of care, among other notable variables that positively influence overall patient and familial outcomes.

Together, these findings highlight Hopebridge’s contributions in the world of pediatric therapy through high-quality care, and our participation with NADR will keep us pushing forward to make an impact on clinical outcomes time and time again.

What’s next? This data and composition of the Quality Index Score is iterative and pulled on a quarterly basis. Hopebridge looks forward to gathering a total outcomes score in the future. If you want to want to stay looped in with the latest updates on NADR, be sure to follow along.

When Hopebridge founder, Kim Strunk, opened her first center, she did so with an ambitious mission. She had the desire to increase access to quality clinical care for underserved populations. Nearly two decades later, Hopebridge works to upload that mission—ensuring all children have access to high-quality autism care, no matter their background, circumstances or zip code.

At Hopebridge, we believe that services should be accessible for all, and that means lobbying and advocating in all of our states for fair and equitable coverage for all families. Hopebridge is one of the few providers to accept and serve families with Medicaid, in addition to those with commercial insurance.

As research shows an urgent need for increased care in diverse communities². Black children are 19% less likely to receive a diagnosis of ASD and five times less likely to receive early intervention therapy than white children. Hispanic children are 65% less likely to receive a diagnosis of ASD than white children, and children living in low-income areas are 80% less likely to be identified with autism without intellectual disability than children living in affluent areas.

We stand strong in our mission to affect these numbers, as Hopebridge continues to over-index in providing more affordable services to children and families from unrepresented populations, including:

– African American: 38%
– Hispanic: 28%
– Single-parent families: 14%
– Households with 2-4 children: 21%
– Families at or below poverty line: 28%

One of the ways we are doing this is through appropriate assessment identification. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work group (DE&I) has made concerted efforts to be sensitive to assessment adoption, for example, such as using the CFQL-2 within our resources because its metrics are specifically built with diversity in mind.

Caregivers know their children best. That’s why the score of 92% in caregiver satisfaction³ for our Hopebridge therapy services is such an impactful outcome for our team, as it exceeds the national healthcare average of 78% satisfaction⁴.

We are here to lift our children to their greatest potentials, but we strive to support our caregivers, too. Familial well-being is a significant piece of the bigger picture that surrounds our patients’ progress and the push toward more compassionate, child-centered care. By incorporating assessments like the Child and Family Quality of Life-2nd edition (CFQL-2) within our repertoire, we are able to not only craft holistic goals based on caregiver input, but also track and measure the effectiveness of our work as it relates to the entire family. Keeping a close eye on outcomes helps clinicians dive into the ways therapy can help increase joy for the child and family through their interactions with their environment and each other.

When our children graduate from Hopebridge and transition onto other life experiences, we keep up with our families. The continued success of our children and families is a part of why we do what we do.

Data from follow-up caregiver surveys indicate that after transitioning out of Hopebridge’s intensive therapy programs, our patients maintain progress and still attend school with minimal support³:

– 95% of caregivers stated their child is still attending school after receiving services Hopebridge
– 82% of caregivers stated their child maintained or continued to progress and acquire important developmental skills
– At the time of the survey, only 5% of caregivers reported their child required re-enrollment in intensive therapy services

From this research, we can glean that autistic children who participate in ABA therapy at Hopebridge are highly likely to succeed in classroom settings. If all autistic children had this level of support for the reduction of challenging behaviors (e.g. self-injurious behaviors), as well as the targeted programming concerning the acquisition of foundational, communication and social skills, we would anticipate more children to have the skills necessary to attend and progress in school.