Lindsay JA, Kauth MR, Hudson S, Martin LA, Ramsey DJ, Daily L, Rader J (2015). Implementation of video telehealth to improve access to evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 21(6), 1-6. PMID: 25714664.
Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among Veterans, few receive evidence-based treatments. Offering evidence-based therapy to Veterans through video teleconferencing is one strategy to increase access to PTSD treatment. In this article, the research implemented video telehealth PTSD treatment in five Veteran’s Affairs (VA) medical centers and their associated community clinics. External facilitation was used as the principal implementation strategy. This implementation strategy included training clinicians on telehealth and PTSD treatment, continued peer consultation with clinicians after training, creating individual implementation plans with each site, and communicating with site leaders frequently. After 21 months, the 27 telehealth clinics treated 183 Veterans with PTSD. The number of patients receiving PTSD treatment tripled, while the number of video psychotherapy sessions increased by 6 times. These changes were statistically significant. Results of this study show that external facilitation may be an effective strategy to implement technology-based mental health treatment.