Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare.
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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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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Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Veterans' Internet Access, Use and Patient Preferences for Telemedicine
Analyzes disparities among rural and urban veterans regarding telemedicine. Utilizes March 2022 survey data from 350 veterans about issues related to telemedicine use, including internet access, connection speeds, internet-connected devices, and use and perception of telemedicine.
Author(s): Amy M. J. O'Shea, Mikayla Gibson, James Merchant, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Analyzes disparities among rural and urban veterans regarding telemedicine. Utilizes March 2022 survey data from 350 veterans about issues related to telemedicine use, including internet access, connection speeds, internet-connected devices, and use and perception of telemedicine.
Author(s): Amy M. J. O'Shea, Mikayla Gibson, James Merchant, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Telehealth Use and Availability in VHA Outpatient Mental Health Care
Report discusses the use and availability of telehealth for outpatient mental healthcare within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Explores telehealth use and availability in rural areas, highlights barriers to both, and discusses how the VHA can adapt.
Author(s): PhiYen Nguyen, Izabela Sadej, Elsa Pearson Sites, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Report discusses the use and availability of telehealth for outpatient mental healthcare within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Explores telehealth use and availability in rural areas, highlights barriers to both, and discusses how the VHA can adapt.
Author(s): PhiYen Nguyen, Izabela Sadej, Elsa Pearson Sites, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Use of Real Time Clinical Video Telehealth to Home by Primary Care Providers Within the Veterans Health Administration During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Variability Across VA Stations and with Time
Describes the extent to which Clinical Video Telehealth to Home (VT2H) was used for primary care licensed independent practitioner visits (PCLIPVs) across the Veterans Health Administration (VA) during the first 18 months of the COVID pandemic. Explores how VT2H use varied over time and by VA station characteristics, including rurality.
Author(s): Dennis H. Sullivan, Linda M. Sawyer, Bonnie D. Dawson, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(3)
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Describes the extent to which Clinical Video Telehealth to Home (VT2H) was used for primary care licensed independent practitioner visits (PCLIPVs) across the Veterans Health Administration (VA) during the first 18 months of the COVID pandemic. Explores how VT2H use varied over time and by VA station characteristics, including rurality.
Author(s): Dennis H. Sullivan, Linda M. Sawyer, Bonnie D. Dawson, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(3)
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Feasibility of Delivering a Virtual 1-Day Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop to Rural Veterans Through Community Partnerships
Examines the efficacy of a one day virtual workshop for veterans undergoing psychological stress. Breaks down participant data by age, gender, branch of service, and rural versus urban residence, among other measures. Highlights the results of the pilot project and makes recommendations based on findings.
Author(s): Lilian Dindo, Angelic Chaison, Merlyn Rodrigues, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communication, 34, 101178
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Examines the efficacy of a one day virtual workshop for veterans undergoing psychological stress. Breaks down participant data by age, gender, branch of service, and rural versus urban residence, among other measures. Highlights the results of the pilot project and makes recommendations based on findings.
Author(s): Lilian Dindo, Angelic Chaison, Merlyn Rodrigues, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communication, 34, 101178
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 3/18/2024