Abstract
Background:A brief query was fielded to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities across the United States to provide an initial assessment of recreation therapy (RT) and creative arts therapy (CAT) telehealth utilization.Methods:To develop an understanding of barriers and identify potential solutions for better delivery of services, a cross-sectional survey was deployed to points of contact at 136 VHA facilities. The survey included questions across five areas: staff, infrastructure, barriers to use, training, and interventions being deployed. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a thematic analysis of qualitative responses was conducted.Results:The most frequent themes from aggregated responses indicated a need for hands-on training, reliable telehealth equipment, and accessible training and tools for Veteran patients who want to use telehealth services.Conclusion:Telehealth delivery of RT/CAT has increased services to Veteran patient populations; however, equipment and training are needed to expand consistent delivery to enhance patient reach across a national health care system.