[AVAPL Members] Re: Travel pay and encounters
- From: "Tan, Gabriel" <TAN.GABRIEL@xxxxxx>
- To: <members1@xxxxxxxxx>, "Litle, Patrick" <Patrick.Litle1@xxxxxx>, "Graves, Peter K" <Peter.Graves@xxxxxx>, "Malone, June S" <June.Malone1@xxxxxx>, "Shorter, George Wiley" <George.Shorter@xxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 11:49:35 -0500
Great idea. When we deal with chronic and severe condition/illness,
patients have to be seen regularly and on an ongoing basis unlike
medication which the patients can take at home. On the other hand, we
have no way of knowing if the patients are coming primarily to get
travel pay.
Gabriel
From: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lemle, Russell
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 11:26 AM
To: Litle, Patrick; members1@xxxxxxxxx; Graves, Peter K; Malone, June S;
Shorter, George Wiley
Cc: VHA National Psychology Chiefs
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Re: Travel pay and encounters
Same issues here.
Perhaps AVAPL Executive Comm. could produce some informal feedback to
VACO on the impact on veterans and staff.
Russell
From: Litle, Patrick
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 5:45 AM
To: 'members1@xxxxxxxxx'; Graves, Peter K
Cc: VHA National Addictions; VHA National Psychology Chiefs
Subject: RE: [AVAPL Members] Travel pay and encounters
Same issues here, Peter. Several veterans have dropped out of group due
to this issue, plus the insult of being told that they should go the
CBOC closer to their home because "the same services are offered there".
It would appear that the time/money issues generated by this change for
the clerks and clinicians more than offset any savings generated by the
restrictions on travel pay.
Patrick A. Litle, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Local Recovery Coordinator
Wilmington VA Medical Center
302-994-2511, x4716
"Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation
enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life
in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her
full potential" -National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery
From: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Graves, Peter K
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:59 PM
To: Graves, Peter K
Cc: VHA National Addictions; VHA National Psychology Chiefs;
members1@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Travel pay and encounters
Hi all,
I'd appreciate a back-channel email or call from any who
are having any success dealing with the issue of travel pay.
Here in Los Angeles, the costs have been astronomical, and so our
administrative leadership is requiring that all visits (not just related
to travel pay) be entered as scheduled appointments more than 24 hours
in advance by a clerk. Until now, our very large, group-oriented
programs have relied primarily on clinicians entering group notes and
encounter information, with no problems. This new procedure has led to
(1) Our inability to use "Group Notes" to close encounters in our
very large, group-oriented programs such as substance abuse, with
significant resulting reduction in clinician time available for veteran
care
(2) A very large number of "no shows" due to the nature of these
large programs' historically inconsistent attendance (not otherwise a
threat to effective clinical care); each "no show" requires a separate
note and follow-up, draining otherwise overtaxed clinical resources
(3) A significant increase (from near 0) in encounter errors when
things don't match up well, resulting in lost workload, and draining
clinician time even further
(4) Long lines checking in for groups, which delays patient
participation in care
(5) A really big drop in morale among clinicians
So, I'm hoping some of you have found better solutions than this, and
can let me know back-channel. I'll be happy to summarize what I learn
and share with those interested. Thanks!
Peter Graves, Ph.D., J.D.
Associate Chair of Psychology
for WLA Outpatient Programs,
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Building 257, Room 12B
Los Angeles, CA 90073
(310)268-3771
cel (best) (213) 305-1444
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