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Behavioral healthcare utilization of military children treated at navy military treatment facilities and purchased care facilities, FY2011-2013
The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U. S. Government.
This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Postgraduate Research Participation Program at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and NMCPHC.
background/purpose
One in five United States (U.S.) children had a mental health (MH) disorder in 2010. When children with untreated mental disorders become adults, they use more health care services and incur higher health care costs than other adults. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the behavioral healthcare utilization and identify trends in mental health (MH) diagnoses (excluding ADD/ADHD and autism), clinic types, provider types, and geographic location among children ages 3-17 treated at Navy military treatment facilities (MTFs) or in a civilian medical facility (CMF).
methods
Military Health System (MHS) data was used to examine inpatient and outpatient MH visits that occurred at a Navy MTF or a CMF during fiscal years (FY) 2011-2013. Trends in primary diagnosis, clinic type, provider type, and geographic location were assessed for all MH visits.
findings
At MTFs, anxiety disorders were the most prevalent MH diagnosis (excluding ADD/ADHD and autism) for outpatient visits, while adjustment disorders were the most frequent MH diagnosis at CMFs. Similar to civilian literature, mood disorders (bipolar and depressive disorders) were the most common MH primary diagnoses for all hospital stays among children treated at MTFs and CMFs. Children treated at MTFs were more likely to see psychology social workers in outpatient settings and pediatricians for inpatient stays.Children treated at CMFs were more likely to see speech pathologists/speech therapists for outpatient visits.
implications
Understanding trends in behavioral healthcare utilization among military children can assist program managers with resource allocation and program planning. Potential opportunities exist to recapture visits to CMFs in certain geographic regions based on rates of healthcare utilization and proximity to an MTF.
Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programsProgram planning
Learning Objectives:
Describe trends in children's mental health diagnoses and utilization of mental health servies at military treatment facilities and civilian medical facilities.
Keyword(s): Child/Adolescent Mental Health, Mental Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I received a Masters of Public Health from Eastern Virginia Medical School in August of 2012. I am currently a clinical epidemiologist, serving an appointment to the Postgraduate Research Participation Program at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center administered by the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE). Current projects include assessing access to care and quality of care of mental health services for the Wounded, Ill, and Injured (WII) population.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.