title: Reengaging veterans with serious mental illness into care: preliminary results from a national randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared effectiveness of an enhanced versus standard implementation strategy (Replicating Effective Programs [REP]) on site-level uptake of Re-Engage, a national program for veterans with serious mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mental health providers at 158 Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities were given REP-based manuals and training in Re-Engage, which involved identifying veterans who had not been seen in VA care for at least one year, documenting their clinical status, and coordinating further health care. After six months, facilities not responding to REP (N=88) were randomized to receive six months of facilitation (enhanced REP) or continued standard REP. Site-level uptake was defined as percentage of patients (N=1,531) with updated documentation or with whom contact was attempted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rate of Re-Engage uptake was greater for enhanced REP sites compared with standard REP sites (41% versus 31%, p=.01). Total REP facilitation time was 7.3 hours per site for six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Added facilitation improved short-term uptake of a national mental health program.
authors.affiliation: With the exception of Dr. Almirall, the authors are with the Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: amykilbo@umich.edu ). Dr. Abraham is also with the Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit. Dr. Almirall is with the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kilbourne
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Goodrich
authors.forename: Zongshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Almirall
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nord
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Bowersox
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058014:Veterans Health