Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans
SAMHSA Strategic Plan 2023-2026
Details the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's framework and funding priorities for 2023-2026. Discusses priorities such as strengthening the behavioral health workforce, suicide prevention, and behavioral health integration, among other issues. Highlights behavioral health equity measures that address rural communities.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Details the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's framework and funding priorities for 2023-2026. Discusses priorities such as strengthening the behavioral health workforce, suicide prevention, and behavioral health integration, among other issues. Highlights behavioral health equity measures that address rural communities.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
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, sex, 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
view details
Examines the efficacy of a one day virtual workshop for veterans undergoing psychological stress. Breaks down participant data by age, sex, 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
view details
Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Highlights a model for delivering home-based pulmonary rehabilitation care for older rural veterans. Presents challenges facing rural veterans with pulmonary diseases, such as COPD, and explores methods for at-home rehabilitation via a 12-week treatment plan.
Additional links: One-page Overview
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details
Highlights a model for delivering home-based pulmonary rehabilitation care for older rural veterans. Presents challenges facing rural veterans with pulmonary diseases, such as COPD, and explores methods for at-home rehabilitation via a 12-week treatment plan.
Additional links: One-page Overview
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details
Rural-Urban Disparities in Video Telehealth Use During Rapid Mental Health Care Virtualization Among American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans
Compares the use of video telehealth for mental healthcare between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non–AI/AN veterans by urban and rural residence from October 2019 through December 2020. Provides an overview of health disparities among AI/AN veterans. Presents monthly data on the number and percent of mental health encounters by type, rurality, and AI/AN status.
Author(s): Isabelle S. Kusters, Amber B. Amspoker, Kristen Frosio, et al.
Citation: JAMA Psychiatry
Date: 07/2023
view details
Compares the use of video telehealth for mental healthcare between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non–AI/AN veterans by urban and rural residence from October 2019 through December 2020. Provides an overview of health disparities among AI/AN veterans. Presents monthly data on the number and percent of mental health encounters by type, rurality, and AI/AN status.
Author(s): Isabelle S. Kusters, Amber B. Amspoker, Kristen Frosio, et al.
Citation: JAMA Psychiatry
Date: 07/2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details