title: Community-based VHA clinics: effect on patient satisfaction and resource utilization.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine whether enrollment in a Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) Access Point (AP) community-based clinic would reduce hospital admissions and unplanned urgent care visits while maintaining patient satisfaction with medical care. Through use of a survey and a review of medical records, data were gathered on the following three patient groups: veterans receiving care at a VHA hospital-based clinic, veterans receiving care at an AP, and veterans receiving care from non-VHA sources. Results showed that the number of unplanned hospital admissions and urgent care visits decreased in the two groups receiving care at VHA facilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing, San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: Welwyn A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Morgester
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Biggs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data