Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare.
Mapping Rural and Urban Veterans' Spatial Access to Primary Care Following the MISSION Act
Presents a study on primary care access for rural, micropolitan, and urban areas after the implementation of the 2018 MISSION Act. Bases findings on supply and demand of and for primary care providers in regions of varying rurality for veterans in Oregon.
Author(s): Eliana Sullivan, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jane M. Zhu, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 2941-2947
Date: 09/2022
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Presents a study on primary care access for rural, micropolitan, and urban areas after the implementation of the 2018 MISSION Act. Bases findings on supply and demand of and for primary care providers in regions of varying rurality for veterans in Oregon.
Author(s): Eliana Sullivan, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jane M. Zhu, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 2941-2947
Date: 09/2022
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National Veteran Health Equity Report
Examines Veterans Affairs (VA) data concerning the sociodemographics, utilization patterns, and rates of diagnosed health conditions among various groups of veterans to monitor, evaluate and act on identified disparities in healthcare access, use, quality, and health outcomes. Chapter 5 developed by the VA Office of Rural Health provides detailed information comparing rural and urban data.
Additional links: American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran Chartbook, Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Veteran Chartbook, Black Veteran Chartbook, Full Report, Hispanic and Latino Veteran Chartbook
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Examines Veterans Affairs (VA) data concerning the sociodemographics, utilization patterns, and rates of diagnosed health conditions among various groups of veterans to monitor, evaluate and act on identified disparities in healthcare access, use, quality, and health outcomes. Chapter 5 developed by the VA Office of Rural Health provides detailed information comparing rural and urban data.
Additional links: American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran Chartbook, Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Veteran Chartbook, Black Veteran Chartbook, Full Report, Hispanic and Latino Veteran Chartbook
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Long Drives and Red Tape: Mapping Rural Veteran Access to Primary Care Using Causal-Loop Diagramming
Explores the factors that contribute to barriers to primary care for rural veterans. Discusses how factors such as physical distance to VA facilities, the efficacy of VA programs, and other factors combine to affect levels of primary care access for veterans in rural areas.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Mary Patzel, Erik Nelson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1075
Date: 08/2022
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Explores the factors that contribute to barriers to primary care for rural veterans. Discusses how factors such as physical distance to VA facilities, the efficacy of VA programs, and other factors combine to affect levels of primary care access for veterans in rural areas.
Author(s): Erin S. Kenzie, Mary Patzel, Erik Nelson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1075
Date: 08/2022
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VA Forum, Summer 2022
Presents several studies on issues pertaining to healthcare delivery to veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights information on myocardial infarctions, mental healthcare, and care disruption caused by the pandemic, among other topics.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Presents several studies on issues pertaining to healthcare delivery to veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights information on myocardial infarctions, mental healthcare, and care disruption caused by the pandemic, among other topics.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Physical, Speech, Rehabilitative, or Occupational Therapy Use Among Adults Aged 25–64, by Veteran Status: United States, 2019–2020
Describes the use of physical, speech, rehabilitative, or occupational therapy in the past 12 months by veteran status among adults aged 25-64. Includes data for large central metro, large fringe metro, medium and small metro, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Peter Boersma, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Describes the use of physical, speech, rehabilitative, or occupational therapy in the past 12 months by veteran status among adults aged 25-64. Includes data for large central metro, large fringe metro, medium and small metro, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Peter Boersma, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Obesity Treatment Initiation, Retention, and Outcomes in the Veterans Affairs MOVE! Program among Rural and Urban Veterans
Compares rural, highly rural, and urban veterans' likelihood of initiating participation in the Veterans Affairs weight management program (VA MOVE!) or of receiving anti-obesity medication or bariatric surgery. Utilizes 2015-2017 Veterans Affairs patient data. Includes data on treatment retention and weight loss.
Author(s): Kathleen M. Robinson, Mark Vander Weg, Helena H. Laroche, et al.
Citation: Obesity Science & Practice, 8(6), 784-793
Date: 06/2022
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Compares rural, highly rural, and urban veterans' likelihood of initiating participation in the Veterans Affairs weight management program (VA MOVE!) or of receiving anti-obesity medication or bariatric surgery. Utilizes 2015-2017 Veterans Affairs patient data. Includes data on treatment retention and weight loss.
Author(s): Kathleen M. Robinson, Mark Vander Weg, Helena H. Laroche, et al.
Citation: Obesity Science & Practice, 8(6), 784-793
Date: 06/2022
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Veteran Mobility and COVID-19
Examines veterans living in rural areas and how their mobility options, cost of transportation, use of telehealth, access to healthy food, and social isolation have been impacted by COVID-19. Discusses issues and policies related to improving healthcare transportation and access to Veterans Administration (VA) services for rural veterans. Includes data on veteran demographics and survey responses to health- and transportation-related questions.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Video Summary
Author(s): Del Peterson, Jill Hough, Antonio Molina
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organizations: North Dakota State University, Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Examines veterans living in rural areas and how their mobility options, cost of transportation, use of telehealth, access to healthy food, and social isolation have been impacted by COVID-19. Discusses issues and policies related to improving healthcare transportation and access to Veterans Administration (VA) services for rural veterans. Includes data on veteran demographics and survey responses to health- and transportation-related questions.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Video Summary
Author(s): Del Peterson, Jill Hough, Antonio Molina
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organizations: North Dakota State University, Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Community Clergy Training to Support Rural Veterans' Mental Health
Report discusses a mental health training program for clergy to support the mental health of rural veterans. Discusses the focuses of the training program and highlights outcomes from the increase of access to mental health support for rural veterans.
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Report discusses a mental health training program for clergy to support the mental health of rural veterans. Discusses the focuses of the training program and highlights outcomes from the increase of access to mental health support for rural veterans.
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Behavioral Health Screening and Care Coordination for Rural Veterans in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Highlights the VA's nurse-led Collaborative System of Care (CSC) program's work in connecting veterans at rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to the VA's behavioral health services and discusses the role care coordination can play in connecting rural veterans to other healthcare services. Details the efficacy of the CSC program and outlines the program's structure and screening process.
Author(s): M. Bryant Howren, Debra Kazmerzak, Sheryl Pruin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 49, 50-60
Date: 05/2022
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Highlights the VA's nurse-led Collaborative System of Care (CSC) program's work in connecting veterans at rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to the VA's behavioral health services and discusses the role care coordination can play in connecting rural veterans to other healthcare services. Details the efficacy of the CSC program and outlines the program's structure and screening process.
Author(s): M. Bryant Howren, Debra Kazmerzak, Sheryl Pruin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 49, 50-60
Date: 05/2022
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Veterans Health Administration Interdisciplinary Clinical Video-Telehealth for Geriatrics and Dementia
Highlights a model for delivering interdisciplinary clinical care via video-based telehealth for geriatric rural veterans with dementia. Presents methods for overcoming geographic barriers to provide dementia care for rural veterans with a team of professionals such as social workers, pharmacists, and geriatricians via remote consultations with rural providers.
Additional links: One-page Overview
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Highlights a model for delivering interdisciplinary clinical care via video-based telehealth for geriatric rural veterans with dementia. Presents methods for overcoming geographic barriers to provide dementia care for rural veterans with a team of professionals such as social workers, pharmacists, and geriatricians via remote consultations with rural providers.
Additional links: One-page Overview
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Last Updated: 4/7/2025