Surveillance and Reporting of Suicidal Ideation Assessment in PTSD Specialty Care Clinical Notes using Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Description
In light of the known elevated suicide risk among individuals diagnosed and in treatment for mental health conditions, and the associated need for ongoing monitoring of suicidality in this population, we are proposing to surveil and monitor nationally both the conduct and quality of suicide ideation (SI) assessment during treatment in PTSD specialty care. Our methods entail the use of natural language processing (NLP) of progress note documentation of treatment being conducted in the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) specialty care clinics, to identify SI mentions, to quantify consistency of documented SI assessments by providers, and to classify SI mentions with respect to their clinical quality. We will report SI assessment rates nationally with break downs by VISN and facility to support administrative monitoring. This use case will help to identify rates of failure of mental health providers to conduct or document ongoing suicide risk screening throughout the conduct of mental health treatment for PTSD.
Detailed example
Surveillance rates of absent treatment documentation for recommended suicide risk screening at the national, VISN, and facility levels
AI / analytics pattern
Natural Language Processing: AI that processes, interprets, and shares information in human language.
Automation level / stage
a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
Expected benefit
Enhance VA system monitoring of suicide risk screening in a population at increased risk for suicide
Controls / human review
ATO: Not reported; PIA: Not published