Abstraction of mental health data from the electronic health record was combined with transplant registry and pre-transplant psychological interview data to explore the relationship between mental health variables and number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Findings suggest that presence of mental health concerns may contribute to increased healthcare utilization following HSCT after controlling for well-known disease and demographic variables. This study highlights the importance of exploring ways to leverage EHR mental health data to improve outcomes and provide comprehensive cancer care.
