Implementation Considerations for Advancing Health Equity among Rural Veterans
Veterans living in rural areas face similar challenges as the rural population in general: geographic and transportation barriers; limited broadband internet; shortages of healthcare providers; hospital closures; and fewer options for housing, education, and employment. These challenges may negatively impact rural veterans' health and well-being.
The Office of Health Equity within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs created a Health Equity Action Plan to guide the office's work. The plan describes the importance of supporting and providing resources to address the inequities and needs of rural veterans. The plan includes information about recent achievements related to health equity, including enhancing telehealth programs for rural veterans to increase access to quality care.
- For a general overview of healthcare access concerns, see the Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare Topic Guide.
- For information on veterans and substance use disorders, see Considerations for Veterans in the Rural Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Toolkit.
- For transportation-related information specific to veterans, see the Veterans section of the Rural Transportation Toolkit.
- For additional information on veterans and telehealth, see the Implementation Considerations for Telehealth Programs Serving Veterans page of the Rural Telehealth Toolkit.
- For information on veterans and the social determinants of health, see Population Considerations in the Social Determinants of Health Toolkit.
Resources to Learn More
Rural Veteran Health Background
Website
Collection of resources related to rural veteran health, including newsletters, videos, fact sheets, and a
library of promising practices.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health
Thrive 2021: Office
of Rural Health Annual Report
Document
Overview of ORH's annual activities addressing rural veteran health, including pandemic response, telehealth,
and unique rural veteran populations.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health
Date: 2021
Veterans in Rural
America: 2011–2015
Document
Analysis of U.S. Census data for the period 2011-2015 comparing rural and urban veterans' status, including
health insurance coverage, household income, poverty, and disability status.
Author(s): Holder, K. A.
Organization(s): U.S. Census Bureau
Date: 1/2017