Data acquisition process for VA and non-VA emergency department and hospital utilization by veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders in California using VA and state data

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2022 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2020.1773028 · Published: June 4, 2020

Simple Explanation

This study looks at how veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) use both Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA emergency departments (ED) and hospitals in California. The researchers linked data from VA records with data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) to get a more complete picture of healthcare use. The study found that a significant portion of veterans with SCI/D use non-VA facilities for emergency and hospital care, highlighting the importance of capturing this data for comprehensive evaluation of healthcare needs.

Study Duration

15 years

Participants

300 veterans admitted to the study VA SCI/D Center

Evidence Level

Retrospective cohort study

Key Findings

1
Among veterans with available ED data, 55.2% of ED visits occurred at non-VA facilities.
2
Among veterans with hospitalization data available, 33.2% of hospitalizations occurred at non-VA facilities.
3
A substantial proportion of veterans used both VA and non-VA facilities for their healthcare needs.

Research Summary

The study aimed to identify VA and non-VA Emergency Department (ED) and hospital utilization by veterans with spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D) in California. The results showed that non-VA ED and hospital usage among veterans with SCI/D occurred frequently, indicating a need for comprehensive data acquisition to evaluate needs and utilization rates. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of acquiring non-VA healthcare data managed by state agencies to accurately assess healthcare utilization among veteran populations.

Practical Implications

Comprehensive Healthcare Evaluation

Accurate data on non-VA healthcare utilization is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation of veterans' healthcare needs and usage patterns.

Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation

Understanding non-VA utilization rates informs strategic planning, care coordination, and financial allocation within the VA healthcare system.

Improved Healthcare Delivery

Identifying patterns of non-VA healthcare use can help design effective interventions to reduce avoidable ED visits and hospitalizations among veterans.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of access on information about hospitalizations or ED visits outside California and the study VA health care system.
2
The non-VA ED visit data period (2005–2014) was five years shorter than the non-VA hospitalization data period due to the limitation of the OSHPD dataset.
3
The study method may have limited generalizability for the entire VA health care system due to local regulation and data access procedures of individual VA facilities.

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