Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare.
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
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
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
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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
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Homelessness and Housing Needs of Native American Veterans Toolkit (V2.0)
Report discusses homelessness among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans. Provides data, cultural considerations, resources, and programs for addressing AI/AN veteran homelessness. Makes recommendations for programs and communities working to address this issue.
Author(s): Kristen E. Frosio, Alexandra B. Caloudas, Stephanie C. Day, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Report discusses homelessness among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans. Provides data, cultural considerations, resources, and programs for addressing AI/AN veteran homelessness. Makes recommendations for programs and communities working to address this issue.
Author(s): Kristen E. Frosio, Alexandra B. Caloudas, Stephanie C. Day, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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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
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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
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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, 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Last Updated: 2/11/2025