Outcome of veterans discharged from psychiatric contract hospitals in Puerto Rico.

A study was made of a matched-random sample of veterans who had been discharged from two VA contract psychiatric hospitals in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The authors wished to determine what had happened to the veterans who were formerly treated in the psychiatric hospitals and whether these veterans were receiving treatment or not. The analysis of the data revealed that the majority of veteran's had received either inpatient or ambulatory treatment for either psychiatric or medical/surgical conditions. The older group of veterans had utilized medical treatment resources to a greater extend that the younger group. The number of hospitalizations decreased from 8.5 prior to June of 1984 to 3.6 after June 1984. Although patients continued utilizing and depending upon VA ambulatory care for medical services needed.