Presenter Information

Tessa WoodroofFollow

Presenter Classification

Graduate Student

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-14-2022

Start Date

14-4-2022 3:40 PM

End Date

14-4-2022 4:15 PM

Keywords

behavioral health services, primary care services, veterans

Abstract Type

Quality Improvement/Process Improvement Project

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to increase the number of open patient appointments by implementing a validated process in which stabilized behavioral health patients are repatriated to primary care. Currently, there is an increased demand for behavioral health services and decreased supply of behavioral health clinicians at the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Aims: This project aims to teach behavioral health providers how to identify appropriate patients and complete successful discharges while helping primary care providers integrate the repatriation process into their workflow. Without the proposed intervention, veterans initiating behavioral health services in the catchment area will continue to experience delays.

Methods: The Knowledge to Action Framework is being used to adapt the process to the local context. All behavioral health and primary care clinicians at the Nashville VAMC are included in project knowledge dissemination. Data is collected by tracking the behavioral health discharge note within the site. The number of discharge notes per month will be analyzed by comparing the number of discharge notes from previous years to those after project implementation.

Results: Results are ongoing, however preliminary results from January and February of 2022 look promising with a total of 35 discharge notes, compared to the six discharge notes from the same months in 2019, 11 in 2020, and 15 in 2021.

Conclusion: Preliminary results are encouraging, as the number of successful discharges has significantly increased. This allows for more veterans with mental health needs to be served at the Nashville VAMC.

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Apr 14th, 3:40 PM Apr 14th, 4:15 PM

Process Improvement to Return Stabilized Behavioral Health Patients to Primary Care

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to increase the number of open patient appointments by implementing a validated process in which stabilized behavioral health patients are repatriated to primary care. Currently, there is an increased demand for behavioral health services and decreased supply of behavioral health clinicians at the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Aims: This project aims to teach behavioral health providers how to identify appropriate patients and complete successful discharges while helping primary care providers integrate the repatriation process into their workflow. Without the proposed intervention, veterans initiating behavioral health services in the catchment area will continue to experience delays.

Methods: The Knowledge to Action Framework is being used to adapt the process to the local context. All behavioral health and primary care clinicians at the Nashville VAMC are included in project knowledge dissemination. Data is collected by tracking the behavioral health discharge note within the site. The number of discharge notes per month will be analyzed by comparing the number of discharge notes from previous years to those after project implementation.

Results: Results are ongoing, however preliminary results from January and February of 2022 look promising with a total of 35 discharge notes, compared to the six discharge notes from the same months in 2019, 11 in 2020, and 15 in 2021.

Conclusion: Preliminary results are encouraging, as the number of successful discharges has significantly increased. This allows for more veterans with mental health needs to be served at the Nashville VAMC.