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Veterans Health Administration staff experiences with suicidal ideation screening and risk assessment in the context of COVID-19.
Newell, Summer; Denneson, Lauren; Rynerson, Annabelle; Rabin, Sarah; Elliott, Victoria; Bahraini, Nazanin; Post, Edward P; Dobscha, Steven K.
  • Newell S; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Denneson L; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Rynerson A; Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Rabin S; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Elliott V; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Bahraini N; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.
  • Post EP; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America.
  • Dobscha SK; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America.
PLoS One ; 16(12): e0261921, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1635925
ABSTRACT
Universal screening for suicidal ideation in primary care and mental health settings has become a key prevention tool in many healthcare systems, including the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA). In response to the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare providers faced a number of challenges, including how to quickly adapt screening practices. The objective of this analyses was to learn staff perspectives on how the pandemic impacted suicide risk screening in primary care and mental health settings. Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary care and mental health staff between April-September 2020 across 12 VHA facilities. A multi-disciplinary team employed a qualitative thematic analysis using a hybrid inductive/deductive approach. Staff reported multiple concerns for patients during the crisis, especially regarding vulnerable populations at risk for social isolation. Lack of clear protocols at some sites on how to serve patients screening positive for suicidal ideation created confusion for staff and led some sites to temporarily stop screening. Sites had varying degrees of adaptability to virtual based care, with the biggest challenge being completion of warm hand-offs to mental health specialists. Unanticipated opportunities that emerged during this time included increased ability of patients and staff to conduct virtual care, which is expected to continue benefit post-pandemic.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Veterans / Mass Screening / Health Personnel / Suicidal Ideation / Veterans Health / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0261921

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Veterans / Mass Screening / Health Personnel / Suicidal Ideation / Veterans Health / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0261921