title: National integration of mental health providers in VA home-based primary care: an innovative model for mental health care delivery with older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To promote mental health (MH) service access and quality for veterans with complex and chronic medical, social, and behavioral conditions, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has integrated a full-time MH provider into each VA home-based primary care (HBPC) team. The goal of the current evaluation is to examine the nature and extent to which MH care processes and practices have been integrated into HBPC nationally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Separate surveys assessing the integration of a wide range of MH care practices and HBPC team processes were sent to MH providers and program directors in each HBPC program in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 132 MH providers representing 119 HBPC programs, and 112 program directors completed the surveys. The most common clinical issues addressed by MH providers were depression, coping with illness and disability, anxiety, caregiver/family stress, and cognitive evaluation. Other team members typically conducted initial MH screenings, with MH providers' time focusing on cases with identified needs. Approximately 40% of MH providers' time was devoted to direct clinical care. Significant time was also spent on team activities, driving, and charting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integration of MH services into HBPC is feasible and facilitates service access for a vulnerable population. Mental health care delivery in HPBC generally involves a high degree of interdisciplinary practice. Mental health integration into HBPC may serve as a model for other systems interested in promoting MH care delivery among homebound and other older individuals.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, Washington, District of Columbia Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Bradley.Karlin2@va.gov.
authors.forename: Bradley E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Karlin
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Michele J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Karel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: Homebound; Interdisciplinary care; Mental health; Teams; Veterans