Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans
Two National-Level Organizations Supporting Rural Postpartum Health Across the United States
Provides background information on challenges of postpartum care in rural areas. Includes case studies of the VA's MomMoodBooster and of Pack Health, two national programs supporting rural postpartum mental health via online tools and peer support.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Phoebe Chastain, Julia D. Interrante, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Provides background information on challenges of postpartum care in rural areas. Includes case studies of the VA's MomMoodBooster and of Pack Health, two national programs supporting rural postpartum mental health via online tools and peer support.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Phoebe Chastain, Julia D. Interrante, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Jumping Through Hoops: Community Care Clinician and Staff Experiences Providing Primary Care to Rural Veterans
Presents a study on the experiences of rural, non-VA clinicians who treat rural veterans. Discusses some of the challenges rural providers face providing care to veterans via the MISSION Act. Explores issues regarding communication, accessing medical records, and responsibility sharing with the VA, among others.
Author(s): Mary Patzel, Chrystal Barnes, NithyaPriya Ramalingam, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(3), 821–828
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
view details
Presents a study on the experiences of rural, non-VA clinicians who treat rural veterans. Discusses some of the challenges rural providers face providing care to veterans via the MISSION Act. Explores issues regarding communication, accessing medical records, and responsibility sharing with the VA, among others.
Author(s): Mary Patzel, Chrystal Barnes, NithyaPriya Ramalingam, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(3), 821–828
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
view details
Rapid Implementation of Veterans Health Administration Telehealth Creative Arts Therapies: Survey Evaluation of Adoption and Adaptation
Discusses the adoption of telehealth to deliver creative arts therapies (CAT) to rural veterans via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 2021 survey responses from 120 VHA CAT therapists focused on barriers and facilitators of telehealth CAT such as technology issues, adaptations need for tele-delivery, and potential benefits.
Author(s): Kristin M. Story, Mindy E. Flanagan, Sheri L. Robb, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 23, 769
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
view details
Discusses the adoption of telehealth to deliver creative arts therapies (CAT) to rural veterans via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 2021 survey responses from 120 VHA CAT therapists focused on barriers and facilitators of telehealth CAT such as technology issues, adaptations need for tele-delivery, and potential benefits.
Author(s): Kristin M. Story, Mindy E. Flanagan, Sheri L. Robb, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 23, 769
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
view details
Factors Associated with Homelessness Among US Veterans: A Systematic Review
Examines individual-level risk factors for homelessness in the U.S. veterans population by reviewing 60 relevant studies. Analyzes factors related to homelessness such as military service, mental health, substance use, and sociodemographic variables, including the impact of living in a rural area.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Report
Author(s): JK Anderson, KM Mackey, EH Beech, S Young, NJ Parr
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
Examines individual-level risk factors for homelessness in the U.S. veterans population by reviewing 60 relevant studies. Analyzes factors related to homelessness such as military service, mental health, substance use, and sociodemographic variables, including the impact of living in a rural area.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Report
Author(s): JK Anderson, KM Mackey, EH Beech, S Young, NJ Parr
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Versus Urban Veterans Health Administration Facilities
Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
view details
Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
view details
Mortality Among US Veterans Admitted to Community vs Veterans Health Administration Hospitals for COVID-19
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
view details
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
view details
Achieving Behavioral Health Care Integration in Rural America
Provides an overview of behavioral health and primary care integration and how integration may be different in rural areas than in urban and suburban areas. Examines the barriers to integration in rural areas and opportunities for policies that can improve access to care. Offers policy recommendations to better coordinate and integrate primary care and behavioral health services for high-risk groups and expand the ability of primary care providers to handle the lower-acuity behavioral health needs of patients through enhanced payments, training, and improved access to behavioral health providers for consultation and referral. Builds on the March 2021 report, Tackling America's Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration.
Author(s): Kendall Strong, Michele Gilbert, Julia Harris, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Provides an overview of behavioral health and primary care integration and how integration may be different in rural areas than in urban and suburban areas. Examines the barriers to integration in rural areas and opportunities for policies that can improve access to care. Offers policy recommendations to better coordinate and integrate primary care and behavioral health services for high-risk groups and expand the ability of primary care providers to handle the lower-acuity behavioral health needs of patients through enhanced payments, training, and improved access to behavioral health providers for consultation and referral. Builds on the March 2021 report, Tackling America's Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration.
Author(s): Kendall Strong, Michele Gilbert, Julia Harris, et al.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Association of Rural Living With COPD-Related Hospitalizations and Deaths in Us Veterans
Highlights a study aiming to identify the cause of higher COPD rates in rural areas. Utilizes VA data to draw conclusions about incidence and access to treatment for COPD for rural veterans. Breaks down data by age, comorbidities, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Spyridon Fortis, Yubo Gao, Arianne K. Baldomero, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 7887
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
view details
Highlights a study aiming to identify the cause of higher COPD rates in rural areas. Utilizes VA data to draw conclusions about incidence and access to treatment for COPD for rural veterans. Breaks down data by age, comorbidities, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Spyridon Fortis, Yubo Gao, Arianne K. Baldomero, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 7887
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
view details
VA Health Care: Office of Rural Health Would Benefit from Improved Communication and Developing Performance Goals
Examines the initiatives and research projects the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) funded in fiscal year 2022. Explores how the office communicates funding opportunities and assesses its progress toward achieving its mission. Offers recommendations to the ORH regarding communicating research funding opportunities across the Veterans Administration and developing performance goals reflective of leading practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines the initiatives and research projects the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) funded in fiscal year 2022. Explores how the office communicates funding opportunities and assesses its progress toward achieving its mission. Offers recommendations to the ORH regarding communicating research funding opportunities across the Veterans Administration and developing performance goals reflective of leading practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Access to Evidence-Based COPD Management among Rural Veterans: Rural Primary Care Provider Perspectives
Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
view details
Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
view details