# Evaluation of Recovery-oriented Acute INpatient Mental Healthcare (RAIN-MH)

> **NIH VA I01** · RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Recovery-oriented acute inpatient mental health services support Veterans’ recovery from
mental illness and/or addictions by encouraging illness self-management, facilitating access to
evidence-based treatments, and increasing patient involvement in outpatient services. The VA
has recently issued guidelines regarding the implementation of such services. The proposed
study will examine Veteran and staff perspectives of recovery-oriented inpatient services and
the relationship between these services and Veteran outcomes (e.g., engagement in outpatient
services and relapse). Results will be used to support further implementation of recovery-
oriented services as well as refine methods for measuring implementation.
In 2013, VHA issued the Inpatient Handbook, to standardize acute inpatient mental healthcare
with a focus on “recovery-oriented clinical care that encompasses staff engagement, patient
engagement and empowerment, and instilling a sense of hope.” In 2014, the Office of Mental
Health Operations operationalized the elements of recovery-oriented inpatient care and
provided guidelines for implementation. However, little is known regarding the uptake of these
guidelines, the processes sites have used to implement these services, or the impact that
implementation has had on Veterans or staff.
The aims of this study are to: 1) Examine the implementation of recovery-oriented services
within VHA; 2) Describe the implementation process, including challenges and strategies to
overcome them; and 3) Test the hypothesis that Veterans served by high recovery units will
be more engaged in outpatient services and experience lower relapse rates than Veterans
served by low recovery units.
The study will use a concurrent triangulation, mixed-methods design. High and low recovery
units will be identified using an on-line survey. Data regarding implementation of recovery-
oriented elements, implementation processes, and Veteran outcomes will be collected using on-
site observation, administrative data, and stakeholder interviews (staff and Veterans).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9768343
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002093-03
- **Recipient organization:** RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Alan Benjamin McGuire
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9768343

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9768343, Evaluation of Recovery-oriented Acute INpatient Mental Healthcare (RAIN-MH) (5I01HX002093-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9768343. Licensed CC0.

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