The Impact of Operational Partnership on Telemental Health Before, During, and After COVID-19

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic significantly accelerated the growth of telehealth services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), as the use of video conferencing to meet with Veterans in their homes increased tenfold in a 3-month period. A substantial portion of telehealth in VHA has traditionally comprised mental health services, and both the scope and volume of such services were significantly broadened in response to COVID-19 to allow for social distancing. The current article is a review of this mobilization from the framework of the People, Process, Technology, and Information model, with a particular highlight on the critical operational partnership between individual facilities providing care and the governing VHA program offices. Lessons learned and future goals for the sustainment and integration of telemental health services are also discussed. Impact Statement COVID-19 significantly accelerated the growth of telehealth services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This article reviews the rapid mobilization of telemental health within VHA as a tool to provide socially-distanced mental health services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.