National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- (-) Access to Care (49)
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- Anxiety (1)
- (-) Behavioral Health (49)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 49 Research Studies DisplayedAdams DR
Availability and accessibility of mental health services for youth: a descriptive survey of safety-net health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of this study was to assess the availability of outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents at safety-net health centers in a large metropolitan county. A comprehensive sample of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) received a 5-minute survey approximately one year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The response indicated that 10% of health centers had closed and 20% reported that they were not offering outpatient mental health services. Reported wait times were longer at CMHCs than FQHCs. The author concluded that these findings suggested that online directories such as the SAMHSA Treatment Locator are often inaccurate or out-of-date.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Adams DR .
Availability and accessibility of mental health services for youth: a descriptive survey of safety-net health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Ment Health J 2024 Jan; 60(1):88-97. doi: 10.1007/s10597-023-01127-9..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, COVID-19, Public Health
Zhu JM, Meiselbach MK, Drake C C
Psychiatrist networks In Medicare Advantage plans are substantially narrower than in Medicaid and ACA Markets.
The authors used a novel data set that linked insurance network service areas, plans, and providers across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and Affordable Care Act plan markets to compare psychiatrist network breadth; their purpose was to assess the percentage of providers in a given area considered in network for a plan. They found that nearly two-thirds of psychiatrist networks in Medicare Advantage contained fewer than 25 percent of providers in a network's service area. They concluded that these findings suggest a certain “narrowness” in psychiatrist networks in Medicare Advantage, which may disadvantage enrollees attempted to obtain mental health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Zhu JM, Meiselbach MK, Drake C C .
Psychiatrist networks In Medicare Advantage plans are substantially narrower than in Medicaid and ACA Markets.
Health Aff 2023 Jul; 42(7):909-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01547..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Steenland MW, Trivedi AN
Association of Medicaid expansion with postpartum depression treatment in Arkansas.
This study examined the association of Medicaid expansion in Arkansas with postpartum antidepressant prescription fills and antidepressant continuation and supply during the first 6 months postpartum. This cohort study used data comparing persons with Medicaid and commercially financed childbirth using Arkansas' All-Payer Claims Database (2013-2016). A total of 60,990 births were included, with 72% of births paid for by Medicaid and 28% paid by a commercial payer. Before expansion, 4.2% of people with a Medicaid-paid birth filled an antidepressant prescription in the later postpartum period. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 4.6 percentage point increase in the likelihood, or a relative change of 110%, in this outcome. Among people with early postpartum depression, Medicaid expansion increased the continuity of antidepressant treatment by 20.5 percentage points and the number of days with antidepressant supply in the later postpartum period by 14.1 days.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464.
Citation: Steenland MW, Trivedi AN .
Association of Medicaid expansion with postpartum depression treatment in Arkansas.
JAMA Health Forum 2023 Feb; 4(2):e225603. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.5603..
Keywords: Depression, Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Maternal Care, Women, Access to Care
Maclean JC, McClellan C, Pesko MF
AHRQ Author: McClellan C
Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services and behavioral health outcomes.
This AHRQ-authored research studied the effects of changing Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services on behavioral health outcomes-defined here as mental illness and substance use disorders. The authors applied two-way fixed-effects regressions to survey data specifically designed to measure behavioral health outcomes over the period 2010-2016. They found that higher primary care reimbursement rates reduce mental illness and substance use disorders among non-elderly adult Medicaid enrollees, although they interpreted findings for substance use disorders with some caution as they may be vulnerable to differential pre-trends. Overall, their findings suggest positive spillovers from a policy designed to target primary care services to behavioral health outcomes.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Maclean JC, McClellan C, Pesko MF .
Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services and behavioral health outcomes.
Health Econ 2023 Jan 6;32(4):873-909. doi: 10.1002/hec.4646.
Keywords: Medicaid, Payment, Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Outcomes, Access to Care, Substance Abuse, Health Insurance
Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
This study’s goal was to inform efforts to increase prescriptions of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among Medicaid beneficiaries. A retrospective study of North Carolina licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners was conducted to estimate Medicaid participation prevalence among clinicians authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and to estimate the association between clinician characteristics and OUD care delivery to Medicaid beneficiaries. Outcomes looked for were indicators of any Medicaid professional claims and Medicaid claims data for buprenorphine and naltrexone. Licensure data from 2018 was merged with 2019 US Drug Enforcement Administration to identify clinicians who used the DEA waiver required to prescribe buprenorphine (n = 1714). Services by waivered clinicians to Medicare beneficiaries ranged from 67% of behavioral health clinicians to 82.9% of specialist physicians. Prevalence of prescribing buprenorphine to Medicaid beneficiaries ranged from 30.3% among specialist physicians to 51.6% among behavioral health clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Grove LR, Rao N, Domino ME .
Are North Carolina clinicians delivering opioid use disorder treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries?
Addiction 2022 Nov;117(11):2855-63. doi: 10.1111/add.15854..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Vulnerable Populations, Medication, Access to Care, Medicaid
Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
This study assessed the association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services. The authors used data from the 2018-2019 Colorado Health eMoms survey, which sampled mothers from the 2018 birth certificate files at 3-6 months and 12-14 months postpartum. Respondents were classified at each time point as stably insured or unstable insured based on postpartum insurance status. Of respondents with public coverage at childbirth, 33.2% experienced postpartum insurance changes compared with 9.5% with private coverage. Respondents were more likely to experience unstable postpartum insurance if they were younger, had incomes of less than $50,000, and were of Hispanic ethnicity. Respondents who experienced postpartum insurance instability had lower odds of reporting that they discussed mental health at a postpartum check-up and received postpartum mental health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH .
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
Womens Health Issues 2022 Nov-Dec;32(6):550-56. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.06.010..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Access to Care, Women, Behavioral Health, Health Insurance
Cutler GJ, Bergmann KR, Doupnik SK
Pediatric mental health emergency department visits and access to Inpatient care: a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this study was to explore the author’s previous research findings on trends in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for mental health (MH) vs non-mental health in light of more recent related data corresponding with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that recent research supports the dramatic increase in pediatric MH ED visits found in the author’s previous research and provides additional evidence that the increase has been driven by specific MH diagnoses. The researchers conclude that depressive disorders, self-harm behavior, and non-alcohol substance use disorders should be prioritized for the development of ED- and hospital-based strategies, and that EDs, hospitals, health systems, and the government urgently need to increase capacity for MH services and identify innovative solutions to improve access to high quality MH care for children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Cutler GJ, Bergmann KR, Doupnik SK .
Pediatric mental health emergency department visits and access to Inpatient care: a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acad Pediatr 2022 Aug;22(6):889-91. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.03.015..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Behavioral Health, Emergency Department, Access to Care, Public Health, Inpatient Care
Newton H, Beetham T, Busch SH
Association of access to crisis intervention teams with county sociodemographic characteristics and state Medicaid policies and Its implications for a new mental health crisis lifeline.
This study’s objective was to assess county-level access to crisis intervention teams (CIS) for acute mental health issues in 2015 and 2020 and its association with area characteristics and state policies in 2020. This cross-sectional study included 10,430 facilities from the 2015 National Directory of Mental Health Treatment Facilities and 10,591 facilities from the 2020 National Directory of Mental Health Treatment Facilities, from 3142 US counties. Area measures included suicide, drug-related overdose mortality, rurality, and demographic characteristics. State-level policies included enactment of 5 Medicaid policies prior to 2020 and 2 recent policies intended to assist implementation of the 988 telephone lifeline. Most US residents (88%) lived in a county that had at least 1 facility offering CIT, although half of all US counties had no CIT facility. Counties without vs those with CIT access were less likely to be in states that expanded Medicare and in states that allow Medicaid to pay for short-term stays in psychiatric hospitals. Residents of counties without CIT access were more likely to be older (>55 years) and uninsured and were more likely to be rural.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Newton H, Beetham T, Busch SH .
Association of access to crisis intervention teams with county sociodemographic characteristics and state Medicaid policies and Its implications for a new mental health crisis lifeline.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2224803. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24803..
Keywords: Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Policy
Wyse JJ, Mackey K, Lovejoy TI
Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder through locally-initiated implementation.
The purpose of this study was to identify and describe locally- and internally-developed approaches to improve patient access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The researchers utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations to examine the planning, design, and implementation of a locally-initiated process to expand access to MOUD. The study found that a self-appointed local team successfully developed and implemented a Primary Care-based Buprenorphine Clinic and E-Consult Service to expand access to MOUD to patients across the health care system, including national and local policy changes, identifying appropriate and widely supported models of care delivery and consultation, and increasing staff investment in the efforts by including them in collaborative planning and problem-solving. The study concluded that a local team can plan, develop and build new processes of care that are customized to meet local needs and contribute to long-term sustainability in the community.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Wyse JJ, Mackey K, Lovejoy TI .
Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder through locally-initiated implementation.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2022 Jun 20;17(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13722-022-00312-7..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Access to Care, Practice Patterns, Implementation
Meiselbach MK, Drake C, Saloner B
Medicaid managed care: access to primary care providers who prescribe buprenorphine.
This study examined variation in access to in-network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers that can treat opioid use disorder among Medicaid managed care enrollees. Approximately 32.2% of Medicaid enrollees had fewer than one in-network network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers per 100,000 county residents. There was on average a greater number of in-network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers in states with higher compared with lower overdose death rates, but most enrollees lived in areas with a shortage of these providers. The authors found that a 25 percent higher network participation rate by prescribers compared with nonprescribers could improve the probability that enrollees see a prescriber by approximately 25 percent.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Meiselbach MK, Drake C, Saloner B .
Medicaid managed care: access to primary care providers who prescribe buprenorphine.
Health Aff 2022 Jun;41(6):901-10. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01719..
Keywords: Medicaid, Primary Care, Access to Care, Medication, Care Management, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Chien AT, Leyenaar J, Tomaino M
Difficulty obtaining behavioral health services for children: A national survey of multiphysician practices.
Researchers estimated the proportion of practices that have difficulty accessing resources to deliver evidence-based care for children with behavioral health disorders and investigated whether practices owned by a health system or participating in Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) report less difficulty. They found that more than 85% of practices found it difficult to obtain help with evidence-based elements of pediatric behavioral health care. The percent experiencing difficulty was similar between system-owned and independent practices but was less for Medicaid ACO participants for medication advice and evidence-based psychotherapy; differences were not significant for family-based treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Chien AT, Leyenaar J, Tomaino M .
Difficulty obtaining behavioral health services for children: A national survey of multiphysician practices.
Ann Fam Med 2022 Jan-Feb;20(1):42-50. doi: 10.1370/afm.2759..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Bonilla AG, Pourat N, Chuang E
Mental health staffing at HRSA-funded health centers may improve access to care.
This study examines the association between mental health staffing at health centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and patients' receipt of mental health treatment. Data from the 2014 HRSA-funded Health Center Patient Survey and the 2013 Uniform Data System were used. Findings showed that co-locating mental health staff at health centers increased the probability of patients' access to such treatment on site as well as from off-site providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Bonilla AG, Pourat N, Chuang E .
Mental health staffing at HRSA-funded health centers may improve access to care.
Psychiatr Serv 2021 Sep;72(9):1018-25. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000337..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Salvador JG, Bhatt SR, Jacobsohn VC
Feasibility and acceptability of an online ECHO intervention to expand access to medications for treatment of opioid use disorder, psychosocial treatments and supports.
This study examined acceptability and feasibility of an online Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model intervention developed to support rural primary care clinics to expand treatment and is part of a larger study tracking the impact of participation in this ECHO on expansion of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural primary care. Using qualitative interviews and post-session questionnaires across 27 rural clinics in New Mexico, findings suggested evidence of feasibility and acceptability of MOUD ECHO to support expansion of this treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS025345.
Citation: Salvador JG, Bhatt SR, Jacobsohn VC .
Feasibility and acceptability of an online ECHO intervention to expand access to medications for treatment of opioid use disorder, psychosocial treatments and supports.
Subst Abus 2021;42(4):610-17. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2020.1806184..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Access to Care, Rural Health, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare
McClellan C, Ali MM, Mutter R
AHRQ Author: McClellan C
Impact of mental health treatment on suicide attempts.
This paper analyzed the impact of mental health treatment on suicide attempts by examining nationally representative populations and using broad measures of access to mental health services. This work used measures of the density of health care providers in an area as statistical instruments for use of mental health treatment in an analysis of the impact of mental health treatment on suicide attempts. Findings showed that mental health treatment significantly reduced suicide attempts.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: McClellan C, Ali MM, Mutter R .
Impact of mental health treatment on suicide attempts.
J Behav Health Serv Res 2021 Jan;48(1):4-14. doi: 10.1007/s11414-020-09714-4..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
The authors examined changes in carve-out financial requirements following the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). They found that the MHPAEA was associated with increased generosity in most observed financial requirements, but increased use of deductibles may have reduced generosity for some patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F .
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):924-31. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13542..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Using 2013 Massachusetts licensing data and the All-Payer Claims Database, researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis of licensed psychiatrists in Massachusetts to examine the extent of participation in private insurance. They found that, among Massachusetts psychiatrists, participation in the private insurance market appeared to be limited. Older psychiatrists were more likely to participate, and patients' access to psychiatrists who accept insurance could worsen as these psychiatrists retire.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP .
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Psychiatr Serv 2020 Dec;71(12):1232-38. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000022..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Provider: Physician, Provider
Rosenberg J, Rosenthal MS, Cramer LD
Disparities in mental and behavioral health treatment for children and youth in immigrant families.
Children and youth in immigrant families (CIF)-children and youth with at least one foreign-born parent-face unique psychosocial stressors. Yet little is known about access to mental/behavioral health (MBH) services for CIF. Among US CIF and non-CIF with MBH problems, the authors assessed access to MBH treatment using the National Survey of Children's Health-2016, a nationally-representative survey of predominantly English- or Spanish-speaking US parents.
AHRQ-funded; HS024332.
Citation: Rosenberg J, Rosenthal MS, Cramer LD .
Disparities in mental and behavioral health treatment for children and youth in immigrant families.
Acad Pediatr 2020 Nov-Dec;20(8):1148-56. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.06.013..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Vulnerable Populations, Access to Care
Yang J, Landrum MB, Zhou L
Disparities in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders during the COVID surge and partial reopening in Massachusetts.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders (MH/SUD) in an integrated healthcare organization during the initial Massachusetts COVID-19 surge and partial state reopening. The investigators concluded that MH/SUD visit volume increased during the COVID surge and was supported by rapidly-scaled telemedicine.
AHRQ-funded; HS025375.
Citation: Yang J, Landrum MB, Zhou L .
Disparities in outpatient visits for mental health and/or substance use disorders during the COVID surge and partial reopening in Massachusetts.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2020 Nov-Dec;67:100-06. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.09.004..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, COVID-19, Disparities, Access to Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Orth J, Li Y, Simning A
Severe behavioral health manifestations in nursing homes: associations with service availability?
The objective of this study was to examine associations between availability of behavioral health (BH) services and the presence of severe depression, suicidal ideation (SI), and severe aggressive behaviors (ABs) among nursing home (NH) residents. 2017 survey data on BH service availability was obtained from 1,051 NHs and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) to identify long-term stay residents in these facilities (n = 101,238). Odds of severe depression were 21% higher when NHs reported inadequate BH staff education as well as 13% higher for SI and 10% higher for severe ABs among residents in facilities reporting inadequate facility infrastructure. Facility-level factors such as staffing, training, and turnover were also statistically significant associations with these severe BH manifestations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024923.
Citation: Orth J, Li Y, Simning A .
Severe behavioral health manifestations in nursing homes: associations with service availability?
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Nov;68(11):2643-49. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16772..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Depression, Behavioral Health, Access to Care
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM .
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
J Ment Health Policy Econ 2020 Sep 1;23(3):151-82..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Policy, Uninsured
Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
This study examined the impact of Medicare’s mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services, which was phased in from 2010 to 2014. The authors assessed whether the reduction in mental health cost sharing was associated with changes in specialty and primary care outpatient mental health visits and psychotropic medication fills. They compared people with Medicare and private insurance before and after implementation. Medicare beneficiaries’ use of psychotropic medication increased after implementation but there was not a detectable change in visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH .
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
Health Aff 2020 May;39(5):819-27. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01008..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Kirby JB, Zuvekas SH, Borsky AE
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Zuvekas SH, Borsky AE, Ngo-Metzger Q.
Rural residents with mental health needs have fewer care visits than urban counterparts.
This analysis compared the number of adults with mental health needs living in rural areas compared to those in urban areas. A nationally representative sample of adults showed that there were fewer ambulatory mental health visits for rural residents, even with those already on prescription medications for mental health conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Zuvekas SH, Borsky AE .
Rural residents with mental health needs have fewer care visits than urban counterparts.
Health Aff 2019 Dec;38(12):2057-60. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00369..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization
Broder-Fingert S, Kuhn J, Sheldrick RC
Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to test intervention delivery strategies: a study protocol.
Researchers describe a study protocol for a large randomized controlled trial using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), a novel framework developed to optimize interventions. They apply this framework to delivery of Family Navigation (FN), an evidence-based care management strategy designed to reduce disparities and improve access to behavioral health services, and test four components related to its implementation. In this paper, they describe how the MOST framework can be used to improve intervention delivery. These methods will be useful for future studies testing intervention delivery strategies and their impact on implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Broder-Fingert S, Kuhn J, Sheldrick RC .
Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to test intervention delivery strategies: a study protocol.
Trials 2019 Dec 16;20(1):728. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3853-y..
Keywords: Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Delivery, Behavioral Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Access to Care
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Do racial and ethnic disparities in mental health treatment vary with underlying mental health?
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Zuvekas SH .
Do racial and ethnic disparities in mental health treatment vary with underlying mental health?
Med Care Res Rev 2021 Aug;78(4):392-403. doi: 10.1177/1077558720903589..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care
Vakkalanka JP, Harland KK, Wittrock A
Telemedicine is associated with rapid transfer and fewer involuntary holds among patients presenting with suicidal ideation in rural hospitals: a propensity matched cohort study.
The purpose of this retrospective propensity-matched cohort study was to evaluate the impact of telemedicine in clinical management and patient outcomes of patients presenting to rural critical access hospital emergency departments (EDs) with suicidal ideation or attempt. The authors suggest that the role of telemedicine in influencing access, quality and efficiency of care in underserved rural hospitals is critically important as these networks become more prevalent in rural healthcare environments.
AHRQ-funded; HS025753.
Citation: Vakkalanka JP, Harland KK, Wittrock A .
Telemedicine is associated with rapid transfer and fewer involuntary holds among patients presenting with suicidal ideation in rural hospitals: a propensity matched cohort study.
J Epidemiol Community Health 2019 Nov;73(11):1033-39. doi: 10.1136/jech-2019-212623..
Keywords: Telehealth, Rural Health, Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Care Management, Outcomes, Emergency Department