The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently launched a pilot program to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with remote access to mental health services, the agency wrote in an April 5 blog post.
To date, more than 500 rural veterans have enrolled in the pilot program, dubbed Telemedicine Outreach for PTSD. The program targets veterans living in rural areas who might otherwise have had to travel to an urban area to receive medical care. VA medical centers tend to be located in urban locations, the blog post notes.
Veterans enrolled in TOP receive psychotherapy and related services in their own homes and in VA community-based outpatient clinics. VA psychiatrists and psychologists conduct appointments with these patients via phone or video.
"We're excited to see this initiative help more patients live happier, healthier lives, and we aim to lay the foundation for the national implementation of TOP," the blog post reads.