Community-based VHA clinics: effect on patient satisfaction and resource utilization

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Veterans Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) aims to optimize healthcare delivery for veterans.
• Access to care is a critical component of healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
• Community-based clinics, such as VHA Access Points (APs), offer an alternative care model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of VHA Access Point (AP) enrollment on hospital admissions and urgent care visits.
• To assess whether VHA APs maintain patient satisfaction with medical care.
• To compare healthcare utilization among veterans receiving care through different VHA and non-VHA channels.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design was employed.
• Data were collected via patient surveys and medical record reviews.
• Three patient groups were analyzed: VHA hospital-based clinic users, VHA AP users, and non-VHA care users.

Main Results:

• Enrollment in VHA facilities, including APs, was associated with a reduction in unplanned hospital admissions.
• Urgent care visits also decreased for veterans receiving care within VHA facilities.
• Patient satisfaction levels were maintained within the VHA care settings.

Conclusions:

• VHA Access Point (AP) community-based clinics are effective in reducing hospital admissions and urgent care visits.
• The VHA care model, encompassing both hospital-based clinics and APs, demonstrates efficiency in healthcare utilization.
• These findings support the integration of community-based clinics into the VHA system to improve care delivery for veterans.