Health Services Research

New study in #HSR Wiley from Paul R. Shafer PhD et al estimates a causal relationship between mental health staffing and time to initiation of mental health care for new patients. WHAT IS KNOWN: Veterans have high need for mental health care, yet access issues can delay initiation of care. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: We demonstrate a causal relationship between staffing and initiation of mental health care. CONCLUSION: Increases in mental health staffing led to faster initiation of care and are especially beneficial in facilities where staffing is lower, although initiation of care appears capacity-limited everywhere. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dyDP5MX5

New study in #HSR Wiley from Brystana G. Kaufman PhD et al conducts a business case analysis for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program STRIDE (ASsisTed EaRly MobIlization for hospitalizeD older VEterans), which was designed to address immobility for hospitalized older adults. WHAT IS KNOWN: Hospital mobility programs can reduce rates of hospital-associated disability, but they are not widely available. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This budget impact analysis informs the business case for disseminating STRIDE in and out of the VA. CONCLUSION: This early evaluation provides practical information about the financial resources needed to deliver STRIDE and support the expansion of mobility programs in and out of the VA health system. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dQDw36KX

New study in #HSR Wiley from Sarah I. Daniels PhD et al determines the budget impact of implementing multidisciplinary complex pain clinics (MCPCs) for Veterans Health Administration (VA) patients living with complex chronic pain and substance use disorder comorbidities who are on risky opioid regimens. WHAT IS KNOWN: Opioid-related morbidity and mortality affect over 2 million Americans per year and have extraordinarily high economic and societal costs. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This study evaluates the initial start-up costs of implementing a multidisciplinary pain clinic for patients living with complex chronic pain and taking risky opioids at three distinct VA hospitals, relying on Implementation Facilitation. CONCLUSION: Incorporating implementation, intervention, and downstream costs in this evaluation provides a thorough budget impact analysis, which decision-makers may use when considering whether to expand effective programming. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dh5kr7Qy

New study in #HSR Wiley from Heather Schacht Reisinger PhD et al uses a practical approach to examining the use of Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) strategies by Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) dimensions for rural health innovations using annual reports on a diverse array of initiatives. WHAT IS KNOWN: Implementation science theories, models, and frameworks can support the planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainment of evidence-based programs and practices. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Content analysis of readily-available organizational documents such as annual reports can be used to examine implementation strategy utilization. CONCLUSION: Combining the dimensions from the RE-AIM framework and the ERIC strategies allows for understanding the use of implementation strategies across each RE-AIM dimension. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dSSSAZwJ

New study in #HSR Wiley from Amanda C. Blok PhD, MSN, RN, PHCNS-BC et al examines the relationship between site-level adaptation and early adoption of Caregivers Finding Important Resources, Support, and Training (FIRST) training during national implementation across diverse Veteran Health Administration (VA) medical centers. WHAT IS KNOWN: Interventions developed and tested in research settings are rarely adopted in real-world settings. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This study uses novel survey methodologies for reporting intervention adaptations in real-world practice settings in a proactive, theoretically sound, and streamlined manner. CONCLUSION: Site-level adaptations were diverse and occurred more frequently in sites with early adoption of Caregivers FIRST. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dYwvQM5M

NEW: This blog, from the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes and Needs in Care (ICCONIC), features papers published in a special section of HSR's December issue. Read "Hospital admissions for mental health conditions before and during COVID-19" now: https://ow.ly/Bl4S50Uvjor To browse the December issue, click here: https://ow.ly/eaop50Uvjot

Visit HSR's Sponsorships page to learn more about the benefits of sponsoring a special issue or section: https://lnkd.in/d3NbBfks #HSR #HealthServicesResearch

New study in #HSR Wiley from Kristina M. Cordasco MD, MPH, MSHS et al describes a structured, iterative, data-driven approach for modifying implementation strategies for a complex evidence-based practice during a nationwide scale-up initiative. WHAT IS KNOWN: Use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in healthcare and social services is suboptimal. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This study provides an example of a pragmatic, structured approach to modifying an implementation package while rolling-out a complex evidence-based practice. CONCLUSION: Implementation packages for complex evidence-based practices undergoing scale-up in diverse contexts may benefit from iterative modifications to optimize practice adoption with fidelity. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/d2ejQ7EG

New study in #HSR Wiley from Erin P. Finley PhD, MPH et al evaluates the implementation and trust-building strategies associated with successful partnership formation in scale-up of the Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention enhancing connection to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other resources during the military-to-civilian transition period. WHAT IS KNOWN: Prevention of suicide among transitioning service members (TSMs) is a complex public health problem with many potential partners and a high level of uncertainty regarding effective solutions. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: We conducted a qualitative case study of implementation strategies and trust-building strategies associated with successful partnership formation in the scale-up and spread of VSI from October 2020–October 2022. CONCLUSION: This case study is among the first to directly examine strategies for establishing partnerships in implementation. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eXyDdYpA

New study in #HSR Wiley from Jennifer L. Sullivan PhD et al evaluates nationwide implementation of a Guidebook designed to standardize safety practices across VA-delivered and VA-purchased care (i.e., Community Care) and identify lessons learned and strategies to improve them. WHAT IS KNOWN: Little is known about whether implementation of the “Patient Safety Events in Community Care: Reporting, Investigation, and Improvement Guidebook” was effective in standardizing safety practices across VA-delivered and VA-purchased care settings (i.e., Community Care). WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This project identified several important lessons learned and strategies to improve standardization of patient safety practices/processes between care provided within VA and care provided in community settings. CONCLUSION: This QUERI Partnered-Evaluation Initiative was conducted in a collaboration between researchers and two VA operational partners (National Center for Patient Safety and Office of Integrated Veteran Care). Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/d5PFsbnT