Can Clinical Resource Hubs Address Mental Health Staffing Gaps?
TOPLINE: The Veterans Health Administration implemented 18 regional Clinical Resource Hubs (CRHs) with remote providers delivering virtual mental health care, addressing staffing gaps amid increasing demand and workforce shortages. Early implementation showed promise in improving access, with program value extending beyond temporary staffing solutions.
METHODOLOGY:
Semistructured interviews with 36 CRH mental health leaders across all 18 regions.
A rapid qualitative approach incorporated templated summaries and matrix analysis.
Participants included leads responsible for implementation and coordination, and Chief Mental Health Officers overseeing facility-based services.
Regional leaders interacted through executive meetings to ensure appropriate mental health practitioner assignment and service delivery to facilities in need.
TAKEAWAY:
The Clinical Resource Hub program demonstrated 3 key values: enhanced integration compared to community care, expanded specialty mental health services in rural areas, and improved provider recruitment and satisfaction.
Leaders argued that the program could prevent unnecessary delays for veterans who might experience longer wait times for mental health services in the community.
Mental health practitioner could work virtually across multiple healthcare systems, with options for hybrid schedules combining on-site and virtual care delivery.
The program attracted numerous qualified applicants for virtual care.
IN PRACTICE: “Mental health leaders’ perspectives of CRH value suggest the program is more than a contingency staffing solution to MH care access problems, but also potentially offers additional benefits that could be leveraged to improve mental health care services more generally," wrote the authors of the study.
SOURCE: The study was led by the Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation in Los Angeles. It was published online in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.
LIMITATIONS: The researchers identified lower productivity among Clinical Resource Hub staff compared to facility staff, indicating unused capacity. The program's rapid national implementation may have contributed to challenges, as hubs were established quickly, potentially before fully determining regional demand. Some facilities requiring services may have lacked the necessary infrastructure for timely implementation.
DISCLOSURES: This work received support from the Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Analytics Team, funded by the Veterans Health Administration Office of Primary Care. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Government.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.