title: Raising the clinical standard of care for suicidal soldiers: an army process improvement initiative.
abstract: From 2004 to 2008, the suicide rate among US Army Soldiers increased 80%, reaching a record high in 2008 and surpassing the civilian rate for the first time in recorded history. In recent years, the rate of Army suicides rose again; the year 2012 reflects the highest rate of military suicides on record. There is a need to assess current behavioral health practices to identify both effective and ineffective practices, and to adapt services to meet the needs of the Army behavioral health patient population. This paper discusses a process improvement initiative developed in an effort to improve clinical processes for suicide risk mitigation in an Army behavioral health clinic located in the catchment area of the US Army Southern Regional Medical Command.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Archuleta
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jobes
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crumlish
authors.forename: Rene M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lento
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brazaitis
authors.forename: Bret A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crow
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008889:Military Personnel; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy; D059039:Standard of Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D000092864:Suicide Prevention