Electronic Behavioral Health "Health-E"
Abstract
How much is access to care improved when patients are offered an internet delivered Behavioral Health Clinic? Can quality be measurably improved at the same time? Does this service cost less, particularly once it has been developed? How much can behavioral health care, enabled to reach across the home and work environment extend access to care and improve treatment quality? These are all questions this project will address. Access to health care, to include behavioral health care, is a challenge faced by all military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). Patient demand and our Tricare contracts guarantee access to care. Meeting this demand is the challenge faced by our system. For behavioral health, unlike other types of health care, patients (other than active duty) do not have to seek their care first at the MTF. Patients regardless of geographic location are free to choose the provider and healthcare system they feel best meets their needs. Convincing these patients to want to choose our system is the challenge we face and a goal of our organization. The "Health-E Clinic" web enabled behavioral health clinic provides patients access to behavioral health services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This e-clinic modifies clinical business processes to offer services on-line. Integration with clinical pathways is inherent in this design as patients interfacing with this system are led through decision pathways consistent with established MHS and local practice guidelines. Continuity of care is ensured with providers now able to provide follow-up care regardless of patient geographic location. The clinic design provides for maximal integration of daily practice in garrison with that on deployment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA421281
Entities
People
- Gregory A. Gahm
Organizations
- Madigan Army Medical Center