Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans
Veterans' Views on Alcohol Use and Experience of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Treatment and Subsequent Alcohol Use Disorder Care at Two Highly Rural-Serving VA Hospitals: A Qualitative Study
Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions for improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions for improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Rural and Non‐Rural U.S. Veterans Receiving Virtual Geriatric Mental Health Services in the Clinical Resource Hubs
Explores how the use of telehealth geriatric mental health services varies among rural and non-rural veterans within the Veterans Health Administration Clinical Resource Hub system, using 2021-2023 electronic health record data of 2,013 veterans aged 50 or older.
Author(s): Christine E. Gould, Chalise Carlson, Susan K. Schultz, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice
Date: 10/2026
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Explores how the use of telehealth geriatric mental health services varies among rural and non-rural veterans within the Veterans Health Administration Clinical Resource Hub system, using 2021-2023 electronic health record data of 2,013 veterans aged 50 or older.
Author(s): Christine E. Gould, Chalise Carlson, Susan K. Schultz, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Patients' Transitional Care Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis of Provider Notes
Examines experiences of older, veteran patients discharged from a hospital to their home. Utilizes electronic health record clinical notes and Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse data from 200 veterans who died within 30 days of discharge. Analyzes rural versus urban differences in patient demographics, patient health conditions, geographic distance to care settings, willingness to utilize home health services, caregiver burden, and more. Discusses unique challenges experienced by rural veterans and their caregivers in transitional care.
Author(s): Samantha B. Randolph, Nicholas A. Rattray, Claire E. Donnelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70225
Date: 10/2026
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Examines experiences of older, veteran patients discharged from a hospital to their home. Utilizes electronic health record clinical notes and Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse data from 200 veterans who died within 30 days of discharge. Analyzes rural versus urban differences in patient demographics, patient health conditions, geographic distance to care settings, willingness to utilize home health services, caregiver burden, and more. Discusses unique challenges experienced by rural veterans and their caregivers in transitional care.
Author(s): Samantha B. Randolph, Nicholas A. Rattray, Claire E. Donnelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70225
Date: 10/2026
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A Descriptive Analysis of a Rural Telehospital Medicine Program in the Veterans Health Administration: A Multi‐Facility, Mixed-Methods Evaluation
Evaluates the adoption and expansion of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Telehospital Medicine Program, a program to support understaffed rural VHA Medical Centers with hospitalist coverage. The study investigated 6 hospitals using the RE-AIM framework, highlighting cost savings, impact on quality metrics, staff perception, and more.
Author(s): Octavia K. Goodman, Jacqueline A. Benson, Robert E. Burke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3)
Date: 09/2026
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Evaluates the adoption and expansion of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Telehospital Medicine Program, a program to support understaffed rural VHA Medical Centers with hospitalist coverage. The study investigated 6 hospitals using the RE-AIM framework, highlighting cost savings, impact on quality metrics, staff perception, and more.
Author(s): Octavia K. Goodman, Jacqueline A. Benson, Robert E. Burke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3)
Date: 09/2026
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"It's Nice to Know That You're Not Alone": Lessons from Rural Midwest Women Veterans' Experiences with a Chronic Pain Management Group
Explores the experiences of rural women veterans who participated in a virtual eight-week telehealth behavioral pilot program aimed at addressing chronic pain. Breaks down participant characteristics, such as age, education, and source of pain, among other measures, and highlights participant feedback.
Author(s): Nicole L. Johnson, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, DorisAnn McGinnis, et al.
Citation: Psychological Services, 23(4), 938-945
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the experiences of rural women veterans who participated in a virtual eight-week telehealth behavioral pilot program aimed at addressing chronic pain. Breaks down participant characteristics, such as age, education, and source of pain, among other measures, and highlights participant feedback.
Author(s): Nicole L. Johnson, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, DorisAnn McGinnis, et al.
Citation: Psychological Services, 23(4), 938-945
Date: 09/2026
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2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the risk factors for veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the risk factors for veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Compacts of Free Association: VA Is Pursuing Partial Implementation of Health Care Authorities in the Freely Associated States
Explores challenges veterans in the Freely Associated States (FAS) - Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau - face in obtaining healthcare benefits and services. Discusses analyses completed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assess the implementation of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024, which gave VA discretionary authority to expand healthcare services to eligible veterans in the FAS by providing hospital care, medical services, and beneficiary travel payments.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Explores challenges veterans in the Freely Associated States (FAS) - Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau - face in obtaining healthcare benefits and services. Discusses analyses completed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assess the implementation of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024, which gave VA discretionary authority to expand healthcare services to eligible veterans in the FAS by providing hospital care, medical services, and beneficiary travel payments.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Veterans Health Care: Information on Eligibility for and Use of Dental Benefits
Provides an overview of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) dental benefits and eligibility. Describes the number and percentage of VHA-enrolled veterans who were eligible for VA dental benefits between 2020 and 2025. Presents data by demographic characteristics, including age and rural residence. Explores the potential effect of expanding eligibility for VA dental benefits to all veterans with a heart disease diagnosis. Appendix I discusses VHA's use of teledentistry between 2020 and 2025, including the number and percentage of VHA facilities, by facility type and rurality, that provided at least one dental visit by teledentistry.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) dental benefits and eligibility. Describes the number and percentage of VHA-enrolled veterans who were eligible for VA dental benefits between 2020 and 2025. Presents data by demographic characteristics, including age and rural residence. Explores the potential effect of expanding eligibility for VA dental benefits to all veterans with a heart disease diagnosis. Appendix I discusses VHA's use of teledentistry between 2020 and 2025, including the number and percentage of VHA facilities, by facility type and rurality, that provided at least one dental visit by teledentistry.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Chronic Pain in Community: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Vet-to-Vet Program
Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Changing Patterns of Specialty Care for Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Rural and Urban Veterans Following the VA MISSION Act
Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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