TY - JOUR
KW - Anxiety
KW - behavioral health
KW - Depression
KW - electronic consult
KW - Mental Health
KW - pharmacist
KW - Post-traumatic stress disorder
KW - primary care
AU - C. Herbert
AU - H. Winkler
AU - T. A. Moore
A1 - 
AB - Introduction: The demand for mental health services has increased as more veterans have been diagnosed with-and sought care for-one or more mental health conditions. Within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), providers may submit electronic consults (e-consults) to mental health clinical pharmacy specialists for medication review and recommendations. These consults aim to manage veterans with uncomplicated mental health conditions in primary care, making specialty mental health providers more available for those who need such services. Pharmacists have improved outcomes and access to care for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, but currently, there is limited evidence demonstrating the impact of pharmacists in mental health. Methods: This quality improvement project assessed the effectiveness of the e-consult service. Information was collected through a retrospective chart review of STVHCS veterans with the corresponding consult note placed in their chart from May 2014 through December 2015. Numbers of recommendations implemented and veterans maintained in primary care were analyzed as markers of effectiveness. Time and cost savings were secondarily explored. Results: A total of 361 consults were submitted for 353 unique patients. Of the 322 patients included in analyses, a total of 301 unique patients (93.5%) were maintained in primary care for at least 3 months. Of the 21 not maintained in primary care, 15 recommendations were implemented; of those maintained in primary care, 271 recommendations were implemented. Discussion: This service improves mental health care-and patient access-by promoting successful management and maintenance of less complicated patients in primary care.
BT - The mental health clinician
C5 - Financing & Sustainability; HIT & Telehealth
CP - 3
CY - United States
DO - 10.9740/mhc.2017.05.131
IS - 3
JF - The mental health clinician
N2 - Introduction: The demand for mental health services has increased as more veterans have been diagnosed with-and sought care for-one or more mental health conditions. Within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), providers may submit electronic consults (e-consults) to mental health clinical pharmacy specialists for medication review and recommendations. These consults aim to manage veterans with uncomplicated mental health conditions in primary care, making specialty mental health providers more available for those who need such services. Pharmacists have improved outcomes and access to care for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, but currently, there is limited evidence demonstrating the impact of pharmacists in mental health. Methods: This quality improvement project assessed the effectiveness of the e-consult service. Information was collected through a retrospective chart review of STVHCS veterans with the corresponding consult note placed in their chart from May 2014 through December 2015. Numbers of recommendations implemented and veterans maintained in primary care were analyzed as markers of effectiveness. Time and cost savings were secondarily explored. Results: A total of 361 consults were submitted for 353 unique patients. Of the 322 patients included in analyses, a total of 301 unique patients (93.5%) were maintained in primary care for at least 3 months. Of the 21 not maintained in primary care, 15 recommendations were implemented; of those maintained in primary care, 271 recommendations were implemented. Discussion: This service improves mental health care-and patient access-by promoting successful management and maintenance of less complicated patients in primary care.
PP - United States
PY - 2018
SN - 2168-9709; 2168-9709
SP - 131
EP - 136
EP - 
T1 - Outcomes of mental health pharmacist-managed electronic consults at a Veterans Affairs health care system
T2 - The mental health clinician
TI - Outcomes of mental health pharmacist-managed electronic consults at a Veterans Affairs health care system
U1 - Financing & Sustainability; HIT & Telehealth
U2 - 29955511
U3 - 10.9740/mhc.2017.05.131
VL - 7
VO - 2168-9709; 2168-9709
Y1 - 2018
ER -