Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services

<p style="text-align:justify;"> Substance use and mental health problems are often underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care. Veterans affairs facilities are using the Behavioral Telehealth Center (BTC) to provide evidence-based assessments for primary care patients via teleph...

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Main Authors: Possemato, K, Bishop, TM, Willis, MA, Lantinga, LJ
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2013
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author Possemato, K
Bishop, TM
Willis, MA
Lantinga, LJ
author_facet Possemato, K
Bishop, TM
Willis, MA
Lantinga, LJ
author_sort Possemato, K
collection OXFORD
description <p style="text-align:justify;"> Substance use and mental health problems are often underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care. Veterans affairs facilities are using the Behavioral Telehealth Center (BTC) to provide evidence-based assessments for primary care patients via telephone. Whether participation in BTC services is associated with (1) increases in healthcare utilization and (2) decreases in symptoms based on behavioral health screening instruments, post-BTC services compared with pre-BTC services were investigated. Retrospective data were extracted for 1,820 patients who were referred to the BTC. Differences in utilization rates and symptom scores pre- and post-BTC services were tested using repeated measures analysis of covariance while controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. Participants (1) utilized significantly more substance use and mental health treatment services and (2) had significantly lower alcohol and depression screening scores post-BTC services compared with pre-BTC services. This initial evaluation provides support that BTC services are associated with increased healthcare utilization and decreased alcohol and depressive symptoms. </p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:f4c4bafa-8823-4ec2-be62-593203fca9b62022-03-27T12:22:15ZHealthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center servicesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:f4c4bafa-8823-4ec2-be62-593203fca9b6EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordSpringer2013Possemato, KBishop, TMWillis, MALantinga, LJ <p style="text-align:justify;"> Substance use and mental health problems are often underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care. Veterans affairs facilities are using the Behavioral Telehealth Center (BTC) to provide evidence-based assessments for primary care patients via telephone. Whether participation in BTC services is associated with (1) increases in healthcare utilization and (2) decreases in symptoms based on behavioral health screening instruments, post-BTC services compared with pre-BTC services were investigated. Retrospective data were extracted for 1,820 patients who were referred to the BTC. Differences in utilization rates and symptom scores pre- and post-BTC services were tested using repeated measures analysis of covariance while controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. Participants (1) utilized significantly more substance use and mental health treatment services and (2) had significantly lower alcohol and depression screening scores post-BTC services compared with pre-BTC services. This initial evaluation provides support that BTC services are associated with increased healthcare utilization and decreased alcohol and depressive symptoms. </p>
spellingShingle Possemato, K
Bishop, TM
Willis, MA
Lantinga, LJ
Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title_full Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title_fullStr Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title_full_unstemmed Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title_short Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
title_sort healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using behavioral telehealth center services
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