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Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare.

County-level Predictors of Growth in Community-based Primary Care Use Among Veterans
Measures county-level growth in Veterans Health Administration (VA) community-based primary care (CBPC) penetration following enactment of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, and assesses whether CBPC penetration increased in rural counties with limited access to VA facilities. Features statistics on county-level CBCP rates and characteristics of counties with high or low growth in penetration rates, with breakdowns by urban, rural, and highly rural locations.
Author(s): Sarah H. Gordon, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Amy K. Rosen, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59(6), S301-S306
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Did Access to Care Improve Since Passage of the Veterans Choice Act?: Differences Between Rural and Urban Veterans
Examines wait times among rural and urban veterans for physical therapy, cardiology, optometry, orthopedic, and dental services. Features demographic statistics for fiscal year (FY) 2015 with breakdowns by rural or urban patients, and average consult wait times during FY 2015 and FY 18 with breakdowns by urban or rural location, service types, and care settings.
Author(s): Deborah Gurewich, Michael Schwartz, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Heather Davila, Amy K. Rosen
Citation: Medical Care, 59(6), S270-S278
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Veterans' Experiences With Outpatient Care in the Veterans Health Administration Versus Community Care
Compares rural veterans' experiences with community care (CC) and Veterans Administration (VA) outpatient healthcare services to those of urban veterans, and examines changes over time. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by rural CC and rural VA patients, and ratings for 4 healthcare experiences and outcome measures for rural and urban veterans in fiscal years 2016 and 2019.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Amy K. Rosen, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, S286-S291
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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An Evaluation of Firearm Injuries among Rural versus Urban Veterans: Data Validity and Early Findings
Webinar recording discussing rural and urban differences in rates of firearm injuries among veterans. Breaks down data pertaining to injuries, suicide, homicide, and unintentional fatalities related to firearms.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PDF Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 06/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Understanding VA's Use of and Relationships With Community Care Providers Under the MISSION Act
Highlights a study analyzing the VA Community Care Network (CCN) to better understand the needs of the program regionally and the challenges faced by community providers who work with the CCN. Draws data from a national survey of facility directors and breaks down facility data by percent rural, care specialty, and partnerships.
Author(s): Kristin M. Mattocks, Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers, Rebecca Kinney, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl3), 252-258
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Partnership Forum: The Role of Research in the Transformation of Veterans Affairs Community Care
Discusses how research has shaped the Veterans Affairs' Office of Community Care since its inception in 2015. Highlights the effect research has had on care coordination, quality of care, and network adequacy, among other measures, for all veterans including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Michelle A. Mengeling, Kristin M. Mattocks, Denise M. Hynes, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl3), 232-241
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Interorganizational Care Coordination of Rural Veterans by Veterans Affairs and Community Care Programs: A Systematic Review
Details the findings of a systematic review of the efficacy of care coordination initiatives by Veterans Affairs (VA) to care for rural veterans. Distinguishes data from pre- and post-Veterans Choice Act and post-MISSION Act. Defines organizational policy and administration, culture, and mechanisms of community care programs, as well as relational practices, contextual factors, and third-party administrators.
Author(s): Lynn A. Garvin, Marianne Pugatch, Deborah Gurewich, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl3), 259-269
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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VA Community Care: Understanding Veterans' Access, Utilization, and Satisfaction
Supplemental journal features a wide variety articles pertaining to veterans' access to care, utilization, and the VA's Community Care Network (CCN). Discusses the CCN's relationship with the MISSION Act, telehealth, and challenges facing rural veterans, among other issues.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl 3)
Date: 06/2021
Type: Journal/Newsletter
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Food Insecurity Among Working-Age Veterans
Examines rates of food insecurity among working-age veterans from 2015-2019, comparing nonmetro, metro, and suburban veterans. Provides data on characteristics of working-age veterans, household information, period of service, metro/nonmetro residence, and other data.
Author(s): Matthew P. Rabbitt, Michael D. Smith
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Correlates of Personal Health Record Registration and Utilization among Veterans with HIV
Examines the relationship of registration and utilization of the Veteran Health Administration's (VHA) personal health record - My HealtheVet (MHV) - by a national cohort of veterans registered in MHV and who, prior to their registration, were diagnosed with HIV. Comparisons were made with veterans living with HIV who were not registered. Differences in registration and utilization were analyzed by age, sex, race/ethnicity, rurality, housing status, and behavior health.
Author(s): Tigran Avoundjian, Lara Troszak, Shayna Cave, et al.
Citation: JAIMA Open, 4(2)
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Medical Informatics Association
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Last Updated: 10/2/2024