Enhancing Behavioral Health Services for Veterans

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces the October 15 issue of the Health Care Innovations Exchange (https://www.innovations.ahrq.gov).

The featured Innovations describe an anonymous, online program that enhanced access to behavioral health services and support for veterans who may be reluctant to seek in-person therapy, a collaboration among civilian and Veterans Affairs behavioral health clinicians to provide co-located services to veterans and their family members, and a partnership between academic medicine and a major-league sports team focused on coordinated treatment and support for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
The featured QualityTools include videos designed to help providers prevent chronic mental health problems resulting from combat and other war-zone stress, and a Web site for clinicians that features treatment tools to support the rehabilitation and recovery of veterans with mental health issues.
To access more innovation profiles and tools related to behavioral health services for veterans, go to https://innovations.ahrq.gov/search/node/veteran%20mental%20health.

Innovations

Co-located, Coordinated Services for Veterans and Their Families Enhance Access to Mental Health Care and Generate Clinical Benefits and High Levels of Satisfaction

A behavioral health center enhances access to mental health services for veterans and their family members by offering co-located services and coordination of care between civilian and veteran clinicians, leading to positive clinical and quality-of-life benefits and high patient and staff satisfaction.

Coordinated Treatment and Support Enhance Access to Care for Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families A partnership between academic medicine and a major-league sports team enhances access to care by providing treatment and support to veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder and their families, generating high levels of patient satisfaction.

Anonymous, Online Program and Peer Support Enhance Veterans’ Access to Behavioral Health Services, Reduce Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depressive Symptoms

Anonymous, online, self-guided therapy and peer support enhance access to behavioral health services among veterans and generate reductions in symptoms similar to those seen from inperson care, at a fraction of the cost.

Emergency Departments Identify and Support Veterans at Risk of Suicide, Enhancing Their Access to Outpatient Mental Health Services Emergency department clinicians and staff identify veterans at moderate risk of suicide, work with them to develop a safety plan, and follow up after discharge to ensure adherence to the plan and connections to community-based support, leading to better access to outpatient mental health services.

Care Coordinators Remotely Monitor Chronically Ill Veterans via Messaging Device, Leading to Lower Inpatient Utilization and Costs Care coordinators remotely monitor veterans with chronic medical conditions via home telehealth devices, leading to reductions in hospital admissions, bed days, and care costs and to high levels of patient satisfaction.

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QualityTools

Community Provider Toolkit: Serving Veterans Through Partnership. Mental Health and Wellness (Mini-Clinics)

Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post Traumatic Stress: Module B Summary This 15-page module summary on posttraumatic disorders in primary care is derived from the evidence-based clinical practice guideline Management of Post Traumatic Stress , developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. It focuses on acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Outpatient Mental Health Specialty Setting Key Points Card

This key points card on outpatient mental health care is derived from the evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in Adults, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD).

Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Inpatient Pocket Guide

This pocket guide on inpatient mental health care is derived from the evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in Adults, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD).

Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Inpatient Care Key Points Card

This key points card on inpatient mental health care is derived from the evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in Adults, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD).