Increasing Post Discharge Engagement (PDE1) at CVAHCS

This presentation showcases how the Columbia VA Health Care System used Lean methodology to improve the Post Discharge Engagement (PDE1) metric for mental health patients. By identifying root causes such as unclear responsibilities, missed follow-ups, and communication gaps with community providers, the team implemented targeted interventions through three PDSA cycles. These included centralizing scheduling, enhancing service recovery for no-shows, and improving dashboard monitoring. As a result, the PDE1 metric rose from 68.21% to 72.84%, exceeding the project goal and generating significant cost avoidance. Attendees will learn how structured process improvement can enhance care continuity, reduce recidivism, and support better outcomes for Veterans transitioning from inpatient to outpatient mental health services.

1. Describe how centralized scheduling and communication can improve post-discharge mental health engagement.

2. Apply multidisciplinary strategies to reduce missed follow-up opportunities and improve continuity of care.

3. Explain the limitations of relying solely on national dashboards and the value of internal data tracking.