Residential Mobility Among Patients in the VA Health System: Associations with Psychiatric Morbidity, Geographic Accessibility, and Continuity of Care

Abstract

This paper reports on residential mobility among patients treated in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. We examine mobility in relation to patients' psychiatric disorders, and we assess the impact of mobility on health system geographic accessibility and continuity of care following inpatient discharge. Subjects included 534,002 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or with none of these conditions, who received VA services in both FY 01 and FY 02. We report the frequency and predictors of residential moves; we examine distance moved and changes in the proximity of VA providers; and we evaluate associations with timely receipt of outpatient care following inpatient discharges. Approximately 25% of patients with bipolar disorder, 20% with schizophrenia, 16% with depression, and 9% of patients without these conditions completed a residential move in FY 2002. When relocating, patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were more likely to move closer to providers, suggesting greater sensitivity to accessibility barriers.