Evaluation of Implementing FLOW

Overview

Adequate access to mental health is one of the most important problems facing the VA and VISN 19. Mental health patients who are stabilized and recovered should be transitioned back to primary care to increase availability in mental health for new patients, and to signal to recovered patients that they are successfully recovered. Because there are currently no methods to identify who is recovered or tools and processes to assist in transitions, few patients 'graduate' mental health. The FLOW program consists of an algorithm to identify patients who are potentially appropriate for transition, a user-friendly online report to communicate this information to providers, materials to explain this process to patients and providers, and an electronic medical record (EMR) note template to document the transition. The investigators are partnering with VISN 19 to evaluate this program using a stepped wedge design with 9 sites randomly allocated into 3 steps in the wedge. Sites will receive an evidence-based implementation facilitation approach. The investigators will evaluate the number of patients transitioned, success of those transitions, and patient and provider satisfaction.

Our study sites requested that we pause implementation due to clinical efforts and site disruption related to COVID-19. Date of study resumption is unclear. Adequate access to mental health is one of the most important problems facing the VA and VISN 19. Mental health patients who are stabilized and recovered should be transitioned back to primary care to increase availability in mental health for new patients, and to signal to recovered patients that they are successfully recovered. Because there are currently no methods to identify who is recovered or tools and processes to assist in transitions, few patients 'graduate' mental health. The FLOW program consists of an algorithm to identify patients who are potentially appropriate for transition, a user-friendly online report to communicate this information to providers, materials to explain this process to patients and providers, and an electronic medical record (EMR) note template to document the transition. The investigators are partnering with VISN 19 to evaluate this program using a stepped wedge design with 9 sites randomly allocated into 3 steps in the wedge. Sites will receive an evidence-based implementation facilitation approach. The investigators will evaluate the number of patients transitioned, success of those transitions, and patient and provider satisfaction. Specific aims for this proposal are: 1. To evaluate the impact of FLOW, using the evaluation framework RE-AIM, including: 1. Reach of the program: % of clinic patients transitioned to PC using FLOW 2. Effectiveness: successful transition to primary care and impact on clinic access for future patients 3. Adoption: percent of providers in the selected clinics transitioning patients to primary care 4. Implementation: use of all FLOW components 5. Maintenance: sustainment of FLOW after withdrawal of external facilitation 2. To evaluate structural and process implementation factors, including organizational readiness to change, staffing levels, interservice agreements about care, leadership support, and internal facilitation.