TY - JOUR
KW - Aged
KW - Alcoholism/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology/rehabilitation
KW - Behavioral Medicine
KW - Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/utilization
KW - Depressive Disorder/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology/rehabilitation
KW - Female
KW - Health Services/utilization
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Medical Records Systems, Computerized
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Primary Health Care/utilization
KW - Referral and Consultation/utilization
KW - Remote Consultation
KW - Retrospective Studies
KW - Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology/rehabilitation
KW - Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology/rehabilitation
KW - United States
KW - Utilization Review/statistics & numerical data
KW - Veterans/psychology/statistics & numerical data
AU - K. Possemato
AU - T. M. Bishop
AU - M. A. Willis
AU - L. J. Lantinga
A1 - 
AB - 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.
BT - The journal of behavioral health services & research
C5 - HIT & Telehealth; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 4
CY - United States
DO - 10.1007/s11414-013-9338-y
IS - 4
JF - The journal of behavioral health services & research
N2 - 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.
PP - United States
PY - 2013
SN - 1556-3308
SP - 416
EP - 426
EP - 
T1 - Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using Behavioral Telehealth Center services
T2 - The journal of behavioral health services & research
TI - Healthcare utilization and symptom variation among veterans using Behavioral Telehealth Center services
U1 - HIT & Telehealth; Healthcare Disparities
U2 - 23616251
U3 - 10.1007/s11414-013-9338-y
VL - 40
VO - 1556-3308
Y1 - 2013
ER -