Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans
VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Improve Information Reported on Mobile Medical Units
Describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes mobile medical units to provide primary and specialty medical care to veterans in communities with veteran populations too small to support local facilities and in areas with limited access to specialty care, including rural areas. Examines VA's annual reports to Congress between 2018 and 2023 about mobile medical units' operations and performance. Offers recommendations to the VA to improve the reliability of the data and contextual information reported to Congress on mobile medical units.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes mobile medical units to provide primary and specialty medical care to veterans in communities with veteran populations too small to support local facilities and in areas with limited access to specialty care, including rural areas. Examines VA's annual reports to Congress between 2018 and 2023 about mobile medical units' operations and performance. Offers recommendations to the VA to improve the reliability of the data and contextual information reported to Congress on mobile medical units.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Veterans With Blood Cancers: Clinical Trial Navigation and the Challenge of Rurality
Presents a study on the geographic barriers to accessing cancer trials faced by rural veterans. Explored the availability of cancer trials based on rurality and highlights clinical trial deserts. Breaks down demographic data by race, gender, cancer type, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Daphne R. Friedman, Thomas D. Rodgers, Courtney Kovalick, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(1), 114-120
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Presents a study on the geographic barriers to accessing cancer trials faced by rural veterans. Explored the availability of cancer trials based on rurality and highlights clinical trial deserts. Breaks down demographic data by race, gender, cancer type, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Daphne R. Friedman, Thomas D. Rodgers, Courtney Kovalick, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(1), 114-120
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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VA Versus Non-VA Quality of Care: A Systematic Review
Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 42 studies of non-surgical care and 19 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 42 studies of non-surgical care and 19 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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The Role of Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in Enhancing Rural Access to Geriatrics Telemedicine Specialty Care
Presents a study on the barriers and facilitators for using geriatric telemedicine through community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) to provide specialty care to older rural veterans. Bases finding on interviews with clinicians and staff from 13 rural CBOCs and makes recommendations.
Author(s): Camilla B. Pimentel, Eileen M. Dryden, Kathryn A. Nearing, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 72(2), 520-528
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Presents a study on the barriers and facilitators for using geriatric telemedicine through community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) to provide specialty care to older rural veterans. Bases finding on interviews with clinicians and staff from 13 rural CBOCs and makes recommendations.
Author(s): Camilla B. Pimentel, Eileen M. Dryden, Kathryn A. Nearing, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 72(2), 520-528
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Study Protocol: Maintaining Preventive Care During Public Health Emergencies Through Effective Coordination
Presents a qualitative study protocol that examines screening rates at VA medical centers during COVID-19 to determine strategies that provide continued care during public health emergencies. Discusses selection of sites, which will be based on rurality, COVID-19 patient caseload, and performance related to cancer and mental health screenings. Highlights the importance of care coordination teams in regard to specialty care.
Author(s): Sylvia J. Hysong, Traber Davis Giardina, Jennifer Freytag, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 150
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Presents a qualitative study protocol that examines screening rates at VA medical centers during COVID-19 to determine strategies that provide continued care during public health emergencies. Discusses selection of sites, which will be based on rurality, COVID-19 patient caseload, and performance related to cancer and mental health screenings. Highlights the importance of care coordination teams in regard to specialty care.
Author(s): Sylvia J. Hysong, Traber Davis Giardina, Jennifer Freytag, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 150
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Veterans' Internet Access Use, and Patient Preferences for Telemedicine
Report breaks down differences in internet access, use, and opinions about telehealth for rural and urban veterans. Bases findings on interviews with eligible veterans and highlights veterans' experiences with telehealth.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Report breaks down differences in internet access, use, and opinions about telehealth for rural and urban veterans. Bases findings on interviews with eligible veterans and highlights veterans' experiences with telehealth.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the causes of veteran suicide, the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on suicide rates, and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by gender, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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 causes of veteran suicide, the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on suicide rates, and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by gender, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System: Challenges, Promising Strategies, and Research Directions
Examines behavioral healthcare access for military service members. Discusses strategies for improving behavioral healthcare in the military health system, such as virtual care and quality control measures, with considerations for underserved populations.
Author(s): Kimberly A. Hepner, Carol P. Roth, Nabeel Qureshi, Jessica L. Sousa
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Examines behavioral healthcare access for military service members. Discusses strategies for improving behavioral healthcare in the military health system, such as virtual care and quality control measures, with considerations for underserved populations.
Author(s): Kimberly A. Hepner, Carol P. Roth, Nabeel Qureshi, Jessica L. Sousa
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Homelessness and Housing Needs of Native American Veterans Toolkit (V2.0)
Report discusses homelessness among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans. Provides data, cultural considerations, resources, and programs for addressing AI/AN veteran homelessness. Makes recommendations for programs and communities working to address this issue.
Author(s): Kristen E. Frosio, Alexandra B. Caloudas, Stephanie C. Day, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Report discusses homelessness among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans. Provides data, cultural considerations, resources, and programs for addressing AI/AN veteran homelessness. Makes recommendations for programs and communities working to address this issue.
Author(s): Kristen E. Frosio, Alexandra B. Caloudas, Stephanie C. Day, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit
Videos of presentations at the 2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit in Utah. Topics discussed include farmer mental health, adverse childhood experiences, equine-assisted therapy for veterans, pharmacology, person first language and stigma, harm reduction, peer support, complementary treatment options, and use of opioids and stimulants in Utah. Captions available in the video player.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Utah State University Extension
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Videos of presentations at the 2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit in Utah. Topics discussed include farmer mental health, adverse childhood experiences, equine-assisted therapy for veterans, pharmacology, person first language and stigma, harm reduction, peer support, complementary treatment options, and use of opioids and stimulants in Utah. Captions available in the video player.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Utah State University Extension
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