Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans

Lessons Learned: A Rural Case Study - Challenges Increasing Access to Dental Care Among Rural Veterans
Details the referral process initiated by the Grand Island Dental Outpatient Team in Nebraska for rural veterans who are ineligible for VA dental coverage to receive basic treatment from community dentists. Discusses some of the challenges to designing and implementing the program, such as establishing new partnerships with local dentists, adhering to a sustainable staffing plan, and pursuing data collection and analysis for measuring outcomes, among other factors.
Date: 05/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Geriatric Walking Clinic: Meeting Rural Veterans Where They Are
Presents a model for improving the physical wellness of older rural veterans. Discusses program and patient outcomes, as well as implementation considerations.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

The Association Between Neighborhood Environment and Mortality: Results from a National Study of Veterans
Details a study on the connection between neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) and health, specifically mortality, among veterans. Looks at VHA data by demographic information, such as race, age, gender, and rural versus urban, among other factors.
Author(s): Karin Nelson, Greg Schwartz, Susan Hernandez, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(4), 416-422
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Transforming Advance Care Planning into an Atmosphere of Support and Communication
Features a promising Advanced Care Planning (ACP) practice for VA or non-VA facilities that serve rural veterans. Features an example from central Arkansas.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

Veterans Health Administration: Actions Needed to Better Recruit and Retain Clinical and Administrative Staff
Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Health and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs detailing the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) challenges in attracting, hiring, and retaining top healthcare talent, including in rural locations. Also discusses the VHA's capacity to perform key human resources functions and makes recommendations for future improvements.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

Veterans' Health Care: Preliminary Observations on Veterans' Access to Choice Program Care
Reports on the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to receive care from non-VA providers if certain conditions are met. Outlines the process the VA has established for scheduling appointments, discusses what is known about the timeliness of appointments for routine and urgent care, and lays out plans to improve the timeliness of the Choice Program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: VA Coordinated Transitional Care (C-TraC) Program
Highlights a promising practice in providing coordinated transitional care for rural veterans. Details the Coordinated Transitional Care (C-TraC) Program and discusses implementation and results from the pilot program at a VA medical center in Madison, WI.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Rural OsteoPorosis Evaluation Service (ROPES)
Highlights the Rural Osteoporosis Evaluation Service (ROPES) as a promising practice for evaluating and treating osteoporosis in rural veterans. Features implementation information and results from the Durham VAMC in North Carolina.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Using Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) and Other Interventions at Rural Facilities
Outlines the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) as a promising practice for assessing osteoporosis risk in rural veteran populations. Features examples in three Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: GRECC Connect Project: Connecting Rural Providers with Geriatric Specialists Through Telemedicine
Describes the efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs to support the rural elderly veteran population through implementation of telemedicine services originating at Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs).
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details