1. Same Day Access to Mental Health
August 2016

2. VHA Commitment to Veterans
VHA is committed to providing Veterans timely Mental Health care, including same day access service as needed.

3. Same Day Access in Mental Health Definition
With input from VISN and facility leadership, we established a Veteran-facing definition of same day access to mental health:  
If you are in crisis or have another need for care right away in mental health, you will receive immediate attention from a health care professional at a Medical Center.

4. Same Day Access in Mental Health
We continue our commitment to current policy which includes the following:
If a Veteran is in crisis or has another need for care right away in mental health and presents to a CBOC, they will receive immediate attention from a health care professional
Any Veteran new to mental health with a non-urgent need will receive an initial screening evaluation by the next calendar day

5. Defining the Process
The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center (TVAMC) developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to align facility procedures with the national My VA Access Mental Health Initiative.
The SOP outlined the process for providing timely Mental Health Access, including same day services as needed.
Includes all entry points for the facility- Primary Care, Medical Center, or Selma CBOC.

6. Components to Same Day Access
Same Day Crisis- receive immediate crisis response assessment by Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP).
New Veterans or Established Veterans to MH- will be seen in person the same day by a LIP

7. Proposed Timeline to VHA Same Day Access to Mental Health in 2016
July
39 sites
August 62 Sites
September 90 Sites
October Sites
November 146 Sites
December
164 Sites

8. In Summary
Same day access is one of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs highest priorities.
Options for how same day care might be provided include multiple avenues (in person, video care, secure messaging and other options).
Tuscaloosa VAMC is continuously assessing and improving same day MH access for Veterans.