VA TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
PROJECT REPORT – PATIENT SUMMARY
ON
Outcome Measures for VHA Mental Health Services

In this report:

• What are outcome measures?
• Why was the VHA interested in outcome measures used in mental health?
• Is the VHA interested in particular types of mental illness?
• Why are outcome measures important to patients?
• How did the VHA investigate this topic?
• What did the VHA find?
• How will this report impact patient care?
• What can the patient do?
• Websites with more information on this topic

What are outcome measures?
Outcomes are the results of medical care provided to the patient. Outcome measures are the results that a health care provider can monitor.

Why was the VHA interested in outcome measures used in mental health?
The VHA was interested in outcome measures because the VHA wants to evaluate the quality of mental health services it provides to its patients.

Is the VHA interested in particular types of mental illness?
The VHA is interested in all types of mental illness, especially serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why are outcome measures important to patients?
Outcome measures specifically ask about the patient's well being. The information provided is important because it lets the VHA know "how it is doing" in the treatment of mental illness. To obtain this information, patients may be asked to fill out a questionnaire or respond to questions on a regular basis.

How did the VHA investigate this topic?
The VHA reviewed the medical literature to determine which standardized mental health care questionnaires would be best to use in veteran patients.

What did the VHA find?
The VHA identified five questionnaires it could use. These are the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS), Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-12), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Threshold Assessment Grid (TAG).

How will this report impact patient care?
The VHA will select which questionnaires to use with patients. The GAF is already being used in many VHA facilities. This will help improve mental health care in the VHA.

What can the patient do?
Patients can cooperate with health care providers and answer all questions as accurately as possible.

Websites with more information on this topic

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