Staff Perspectives on the VISN 20 Tele-Neuropsychology Program

The use of tele-neuropsychology (teleNP) is increasing within Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20. A quality improvement survey was conducted to better understand VISN 20 staff opinions of teleNP, how to improve the services, and whether it is preferred over face-to-face (F2F) neuropsychology evaluations in community-based settings.

The authors surveyed US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) VISN 20 staff from February 7, 2024, to June 15, 2024. Eighteen of 33 respondents had referred patients for neuropsychology services during the previous year.

The mean (SD) rating of teleNP usefulness was 1.5 (0.8) (between very much so and mostly useful on the scale) and the rating of non-VA F2F neuropsychology evaluation usefulness was 1.7 (0.9). A Wilcoxon signed rank-test of related samples indicated no differences between the pairs of ratings (Z = 1.50; P = .41). Respondents serving rural veterans were more likely to refer patients for teleNP services compared with those serving nonrural veterans (χ² = 5.7; P = .02). However, ratings of teleNP usefulness did not significantly differ for those serving rural compared with nonrural veterans (χ² = 1.4; P = .49).

While response rate was low, the survey provides initial support for the acceptability and utility of teleNP among VA staff who responded to the survey, with favorable comparisons of teleNP to existing F2F neuropsychology resources.