Walk-In Triage Systems in University Counseling Centers |
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| Authors: | Katharine S Shaffer Michael M Love Kelsey M Chapman Angela J Horn Patricia P Haak Claire Y W Shen |
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| Institution: | 1. Division of Applied Behavioral Sciences, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA;2. Cook Counseling Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;3. Lassiter and Associates Psychological Services, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA;4. School of Social Sciences, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana, USA |
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| Abstract: | To meet the complex mental health needs of students, some university counseling centers (UCCs) have implemented walk-in triage intake systems, which have not yet been empirically investigated. This study compared client and clinician differences (N = 5564) between a traditional scheduled intake system (Year 1) and a walk-in triage system (Year 2) at a large, southeastern UCC. Results showed a significant increase in clients’ attendance rates and clinicians’ caseloads, a significant decrease in no-show rates, and no change in students’ symptom severity at intake between Years 1 and 2. Clinicians’ number of scheduled appointments were unchanged, indicating that clinicians were already at maximum capacity for appointments in Year 1. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits and challenges that walk-in triage systems present to students, universities, and UCCs. |
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| Keywords: | Clinical intake systems college student mental health university and college counseling centers walk-in-triage systems |
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