Improvements to PTSD quality metrics with natural language processing.

Rationale Aims And Objectives: As quality measurement becomes increasingly reliant on the availability of structured electronic medical record (EMR) data, clinicians are asked to perform documentation using tools that facilitate data capture. These tools may not be available, feasible, or acceptable in all clinical scenarios. Alternative methods of assessment, including natural language processing (NLP) of clinical notes, may improve the completeness of quality measurement in real-world practice.

Geographic Variation in Initiation of Evidence-based Psychotherapy Among Veterans With PTSD.

Introduction: The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has invested in implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for over a decade, resulting in slow but steady uptake of these treatments nationally. However, no prior research has investigated the geographic variation in initiation of EBP. Our objectives were to determine whether there is geographic variation in the initiation of EBP for PTSD in the VA and to identify patient and clinic factors associated with EBP initiation.