Literature Collection

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to develop guidance for Home-Based Primary Care (HPBC) Mental Health (MH) clinicians on integrating Measurement-Based Care (MBC) into their practice and gain participating psychologists' feedback on their experience using MBC for treating mental health concerns with HBPC Veterans. METHODS: Based on feedback from the HBPC MH community and in consultation with national leadership, a workgroup of HBPC psychologists developed a guide tailoring MBC to HBPC Veterans. Eight HBPC psychologists piloted the adapted MBC approach with 53 Veterans. Participating psychologists provided feedback on measure administration, Veterans' responses to MBC, and perceived benefits and challenges. RESULTS: Pilot participants' feedback suggested that MBC can be a highly useful tool for delivering mental health services in HBPC, although feedback varied about specific MBC measures. Qualitative feedback was primarily positive, but participants noted challenges based on the nature of the presenting problem and Veteran-specific characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that MBC can be utilized with appropriate HBPC Veterans and has the potential to benefit care. Further research is needed to clarify factors that enhance or reduce MBC's utility within HBPC. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: HBPC MH providers identified MBC as a useful tool particularly when adapted to meet the needs of HBPC Veterans.

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to develop guidance for Home-Based Primary Care (HPBC) Mental Health (MH) clinicians on integrating Measurement-Based Care (MBC) into their practice and gain participating psychologists' feedback on their experience using MBC for treating mental health concerns with HBPC Veterans. METHODS: Based on feedback from the HBPC MH community and in consultation with national leadership, a workgroup of HBPC psychologists developed a guide tailoring MBC to HBPC Veterans. Eight HBPC psychologists piloted the adapted MBC approach with 53 Veterans. Participating psychologists provided feedback on measure administration, Veterans' responses to MBC, and perceived benefits and challenges. RESULTS: Pilot participants' feedback suggested that MBC can be a highly useful tool for delivering mental health services in HBPC, although feedback varied about specific MBC measures. Qualitative feedback was primarily positive, but participants noted challenges based on the nature of the presenting problem and Veteran-specific characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that MBC can be utilized with appropriate HBPC Veterans and has the potential to benefit care. Further research is needed to clarify factors that enhance or reduce MBC's utility within HBPC. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: HBPC MH providers identified MBC as a useful tool particularly when adapted to meet the needs of HBPC Veterans.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has undoubtedly had a major impact on the provision of physical healthcare in Ireland and worldwide. The mental health impact of this pandemic cannot be underestimated, particularly relating to patients suffering from addiction. Heightened public stress and anxiety levels, increasing isolation and the physical consequences of addiction play a large role in the proliferation and ongoing relapse of substance misuse and behavioural addiction. Service provision is an ongoing challenge not only due to the increasing need for services given the increased mental health burden of COVID-19 but also the restrictions in place in clinical areas to achieve social distancing. The necessary adaptations to service provision provide opportunities for the analysis of current processes used in our addiction unit and the introduction of new processes to our service. The current crisis tests the sustainability of the service to provide the high standard of care required for these patients.