Key Informant perspectives on VA Community Care for Post-9/11 Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Presenter Biography
I am a student in the MPH in Epidemiology program at the OHSU-PSU SPH, focusing on refining research skills after 20 years of clinical experience in behavioral health as an LCSW in this community. I am also a Senior Research Assistant at the SPH, and an Adjunct Research Assistant at Portland State University’s Institute on Aging, with interests and experience in social and behavioral health research.
Institution
OHSU
Program/Major
Epidemiology
Degree
MPH
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-4-2023 2:00 PM
End Date
4-4-2023 3:00 PM
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40217
Keywords
Traumatic brain injury, VA healthcare system, Veterans
Abstract
Key Informant perspectives on VA Community Care for Post-9/11 Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Susan Sotka, LCSW; Tess Gilbert, MHS; Kathleen Carlson, MS, PhD
Background: Military-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is prevalent among post-9/11 Veterans. In recent years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been outsourcing greater amounts of health care to non-VA providers in the community (“Community Care”). Fragmentation of care between VA and community settings may be especially detrimental for Veterans with TBI. In preparation for a research study to quantify Veterans’ outcomes, we interviewed key informants involved in Community Care.
Methods: We developed a list of questions tailored towards the particular role of each of three distinct groups: nurse case managers, TBI/ Polytrauma clinicians, and Veteran consultants. We sought to better understand reasons Veterans use healthcare in the community, their experiences with this use, as well as with their use of health care at VA facilities.
Results: We interviewed 10 key informants. Interviews highlighted themes around best treatment practices for Veterans with TBI (advantages to receiving care within the VA), key variables which can impact Veteran experience with accessing health care (location, systems navigation, VA staffing levels, and availability of community providers), Veteran choice in where to access care, and opportunities for systems improvement, with increased cohesiveness.
Conclusions: Topics related to Veteran preferences, experiences accessing health care, navigating systems, and utilizing care, both within the VA and in the community, emerged as important to include in our subsequent Veteran survey and qualitative interviews. Results could inform future study around interventions designed to increase cohesiveness of the Community Care system, and enhance the care received by Veterans with TBI.
Key Informant perspectives on VA Community Care for Post-9/11 Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Key Informant perspectives on VA Community Care for Post-9/11 Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Susan Sotka, LCSW; Tess Gilbert, MHS; Kathleen Carlson, MS, PhD
Background: Military-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is prevalent among post-9/11 Veterans. In recent years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been outsourcing greater amounts of health care to non-VA providers in the community (“Community Care”). Fragmentation of care between VA and community settings may be especially detrimental for Veterans with TBI. In preparation for a research study to quantify Veterans’ outcomes, we interviewed key informants involved in Community Care.
Methods: We developed a list of questions tailored towards the particular role of each of three distinct groups: nurse case managers, TBI/ Polytrauma clinicians, and Veteran consultants. We sought to better understand reasons Veterans use healthcare in the community, their experiences with this use, as well as with their use of health care at VA facilities.
Results: We interviewed 10 key informants. Interviews highlighted themes around best treatment practices for Veterans with TBI (advantages to receiving care within the VA), key variables which can impact Veteran experience with accessing health care (location, systems navigation, VA staffing levels, and availability of community providers), Veteran choice in where to access care, and opportunities for systems improvement, with increased cohesiveness.
Conclusions: Topics related to Veteran preferences, experiences accessing health care, navigating systems, and utilizing care, both within the VA and in the community, emerged as important to include in our subsequent Veteran survey and qualitative interviews. Results could inform future study around interventions designed to increase cohesiveness of the Community Care system, and enhance the care received by Veterans with TBI.