Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans
Rates of Primary Care and Integrated Mental Health Telemedicine Visits Between Rural and Urban Veterans Affairs Beneficiaries Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Shares the results of a study examining changes over time in rural-urban differences in telemedicine use for primary care and mental health integration services among Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries. Uses data from 138 VA healthcare systems from March 2019 to December 2021. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by visit type and rural or urban area.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Caroline Yoo, Karen Chu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(3)
Date: 03/2023
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Shares the results of a study examining changes over time in rural-urban differences in telemedicine use for primary care and mental health integration services among Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries. Uses data from 138 VA healthcare systems from March 2019 to December 2021. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by visit type and rural or urban area.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Caroline Yoo, Karen Chu, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(3)
Date: 03/2023
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The Effect of Geographic Origin and Destination on Congenital Heart Disease Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines surgical outcomes related to rural versus urban residence, distance to tertiary care, and reporting characteristics of associated surgical centers for Department of Defense (DoD) health insurance beneficiaries with congenital heart disease (CHD). Analyzes outcomes by cost, length of stay, readmission within 90 days, and patient mortality, further broken down by patient demographics, including rural-urban commuting area (RUCA).
Author(s): Spencer M. Millen, Cara H. Olsen, Ryan P. Flanagan, John S. Scott, Craig P. Dobson
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 23, 99
Date: 02/2023
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Examines surgical outcomes related to rural versus urban residence, distance to tertiary care, and reporting characteristics of associated surgical centers for Department of Defense (DoD) health insurance beneficiaries with congenital heart disease (CHD). Analyzes outcomes by cost, length of stay, readmission within 90 days, and patient mortality, further broken down by patient demographics, including rural-urban commuting area (RUCA).
Author(s): Spencer M. Millen, Cara H. Olsen, Ryan P. Flanagan, John S. Scott, Craig P. Dobson
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 23, 99
Date: 02/2023
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Achieving Whole Health: A New Approach for Veterans and the Nation
Report offers guidance for providers both inside and outside of the VA for filling gaps in veterans healthcare. Discusses a team-based interprofessional care structure for preventing disease and promoting well-being. Highlights some considerations for providing a whole health approach for rural veterans as well.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Report offers guidance for providers both inside and outside of the VA for filling gaps in veterans healthcare. Discusses a team-based interprofessional care structure for preventing disease and promoting well-being. Highlights some considerations for providing a whole health approach for rural veterans as well.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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VA Mental Health: Additional Action Needed to Assess Rural Veterans' Access to Intensive Care
Report examines the rate at which the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Intensive Mental Health Care programs were being utilized in rural areas. Highlights the difference in the utilization rate of the inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs for both rural and urban veterans. Makes suggestions for how the VHA can improve these rates going forward.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Report examines the rate at which the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Intensive Mental Health Care programs were being utilized in rural areas. Highlights the difference in the utilization rate of the inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs for both rural and urban veterans. Makes suggestions for how the VHA can improve these rates going forward.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Geography, Rurality, and Community Distress: Deaths Due to Suicide, Alcohol-Use, and Drug-Use among Colorado Veterans
Explores the connection between distressed communities and mortality disparities in the Colorado veteran population. Utilizes 2009-2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) to examine suicide, alcohol, and drug related mortalities, with demographic data broken down by sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, distressed community index (DCI), and frontier, rural, or urban location. Includes county-level maps showing DCI and rurality.
Author(s): Talia L. Spark, Colleen E. Reid, Rachel Sayko Adams, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 10, 8
Date: 02/2023
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Explores the connection between distressed communities and mortality disparities in the Colorado veteran population. Utilizes 2009-2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) to examine suicide, alcohol, and drug related mortalities, with demographic data broken down by sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, distressed community index (DCI), and frontier, rural, or urban location. Includes county-level maps showing DCI and rurality.
Author(s): Talia L. Spark, Colleen E. Reid, Rachel Sayko Adams, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 10, 8
Date: 02/2023
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Perceived Benefits of Geriatric Specialty Telemedicine among Rural Patients and Caregivers
Explores the perceived benefits of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) geriatric specialty telemedicine service (GRECC Connect), which connects geriatric interdisciplinary teams in urban areas with older veterans in rural areas through videoconferencing platforms. Summarizes results of interviews 30 rural older adults enrolled in the VHA and their caregivers about the content and quality of their GRECC Connect visits.
Author(s): Eileen M. Dryden, Meaghan A. Kennedy, Jennifer Conti, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 58(Suppl 1), 26-35
Date: 02/2023
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Explores the perceived benefits of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) geriatric specialty telemedicine service (GRECC Connect), which connects geriatric interdisciplinary teams in urban areas with older veterans in rural areas through videoconferencing platforms. Summarizes results of interviews 30 rural older adults enrolled in the VHA and their caregivers about the content and quality of their GRECC Connect visits.
Author(s): Eileen M. Dryden, Meaghan A. Kennedy, Jennifer Conti, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 58(Suppl 1), 26-35
Date: 02/2023
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A Novel Gap Staffing Metric for Primary Care in the Veterans Health Administration and Implications for Rural and Urban Clinics
Highlights a study on the metric for primary care provider staffing used by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2017-2021. Explores the staffing gaps in rural versus urban areas based on the VHA's staffing metric.
Author(s): Amy M. J. O'Shea, Bjarni Haraldsson, Ariana F. Shahnazi, et al.
Citation: Journal of Ambulatory Care Management 46(1), 25-33
Date: 01/2023
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Highlights a study on the metric for primary care provider staffing used by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2017-2021. Explores the staffing gaps in rural versus urban areas based on the VHA's staffing metric.
Author(s): Amy M. J. O'Shea, Bjarni Haraldsson, Ariana F. Shahnazi, et al.
Citation: Journal of Ambulatory Care Management 46(1), 25-33
Date: 01/2023
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Grit but Not Help-Seeking Was Associated with Food Insecurity among Low Income, At-Risk Rural Veterans
Examines psychological attributes such as grit and help-seeking behaviors and their association to food security among rural veterans in southern Illinois. Analyzes data from 177 veterans who utilized food pantries in 2021 for associations between psychological traits and resource usage. Discusses educational interventions that have the potential to increase well-being for rural veterans.
Author(s): Yue Qin, Douglas A. Sneddon, Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2500
Date: 01/2023
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Examines psychological attributes such as grit and help-seeking behaviors and their association to food security among rural veterans in southern Illinois. Analyzes data from 177 veterans who utilized food pantries in 2021 for associations between psychological traits and resource usage. Discusses educational interventions that have the potential to increase well-being for rural veterans.
Author(s): Yue Qin, Douglas A. Sneddon, Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2500
Date: 01/2023
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Spatial Analysis of Access to Psychiatrists for US Military Personnel and Their Families
Examines the location and capacity of psychiatrists within a 30-minute driving time of TRICARE beneficiaries. Explores how geographic access to psychiatrists affects veteran TRICARE beneficiaries in rural and low-income communities. Breaks down community data by region, rural or urban status, and economic makeup, among other measures.
Author(s): Marigee Bacolod, Jennifer Heissel, Yu-Chu Shen
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2249314
Date: 01/2023
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Examines the location and capacity of psychiatrists within a 30-minute driving time of TRICARE beneficiaries. Explores how geographic access to psychiatrists affects veteran TRICARE beneficiaries in rural and low-income communities. Breaks down community data by region, rural or urban status, and economic makeup, among other measures.
Author(s): Marigee Bacolod, Jennifer Heissel, Yu-Chu Shen
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2249314
Date: 01/2023
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Improving Access to High-Quality Mental Health Care for Veterans: Proceedings of a Workshop
Presents a workshop focusing on mental healthcare access for veterans. Discusses some of the challenges the VA faces in delivering mental healthcare to veterans, particularly those in rural and low-income communities. Explores methods to improve mental health access and highlights best practices.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Presents a workshop focusing on mental healthcare access for veterans. Discusses some of the challenges the VA faces in delivering mental healthcare to veterans, particularly those in rural and low-income communities. Explores methods to improve mental health access and highlights best practices.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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