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Vance BS, Carpenter R. Women Veterans' Descriptions of Interactions With Civilian Health Care Providers: A Qualitative Inquiry. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 2024; 47:E96-E109. [PMID: 36928280 DOI: 10.1097/ans.0000000000000492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Women veterans often obtain care for unique gender- and military-related health issues from civilian health care settings. There is a gap in the literature surrounding woman veterans' perspectives about the care they receive. The purpose of this study was to apply the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior framework to study the patient-provider interaction described by women veterans. A qualitative descriptive methodology, using directed content analysis, was employed. Six themes were identified. Consistent screening, provider knowledge about service roles and experiences of women veterans, and familiarity with military-related health conditions support holistic care. Further research in this area is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billie S Vance
- Author Affiliations: Adult Health Department, School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown
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Ball DD, Sadler AG, Steffen MJ, Paez MB, Mengeling MA. The impact of patient-provider relationships on choosing between VA and VA-purchased care: A qualitative study of health care decision-making among rural veterans. J Rural Health 2024; 40:430-437. [PMID: 37942663 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Since the Choice Act in 2014, many Veterans have had greater options for seeking Veteran Affairs (VA)-purchased care in the community. We investigated factors that influence rural Veterans' decisions regarding where to seek care. METHODS We utilized semi-structured telephone interviews to query Veterans living in rural or highly rural areas of Midwestern states about their health care options, preferences, and experiences. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, thematically coded, and deductively analyzed using a socioecological approach. FINDINGS Forty rural Veterans (20 men/20 women) ages 28-76 years completed interviews in 2019. We found that rural Veterans often spoke about their relationships and interactions with providers as an important factor in deciding where to seek care. They expressed three socioecological qualities of patient-provider relationships that affected their decisions: (1) personal level-rural Veterans traveled longer distances for more compatible patient-provider relationships; (2) interpersonal level-they sought stable patient-provider relationships that encouraged familiarity, trust, and communication; and (3) organizational level-they emphasized shared identities and expertise that fostered a sense of belonging with their provider. Participants also described how impersonal interactions, status differences, and staff turnover impacted their choice of provider and were disruptive to patient-provider relationships. CONCLUSIONS Rural Veterans' interview responses suggest exploring innovative ways to measure socioecological dimensions (i.e., personal, interpersonal, and organizational) of access-related decisions and patient-provider relationships to better understand health care barriers and needs. Such measures align with the VA's Whole Health approach that emphasizes person-centered care and the value of social relationships to Veterans' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D Ball
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Anne G Sadler
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Melissa J Steffen
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Monica B Paez
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Michelle A Mengeling
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and the VA Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Burton L, Milad F, Janke R, Rush KL. The Landscape of Health Technology for Equity Deserving Groups in Rural Communities: A Systematic Review. COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & POLICY 2024:2752535X241252208. [PMID: 38713914 DOI: 10.1177/2752535x241252208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equity-deserving groups face well-known health disparities that are exacerbated by rural residence. Health technologies have shown promise in reducing disparities among these groups, but there has been no comprehensive evidence synthesis of outcomes. PURPOSE The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the patient, healthcare, and economic outcomes of health technology applications with rural living equity-deserving groups. RESEARCH DESIGN The databases searched included Medline and Embase. Articles were assessed for bias using the McGill mixed methods appraisal tool. ANALYSIS Data were synthesized narratively using a convergent integrated approach for qualitative and quantitative findings. RESULTS This evidence synthesis includes papers (n = 21) that reported on health technologies targeting rural equity-deserving groups. Overall, patient outcomes - knowledge, self-efficacy, weight loss, and clinical indicators - improved. Healthcare access improved with greater convenience, flexibility, time and travel savings, though travel was still occasionally necessary. All studies reported satisfaction with health technologies. Technology challenges reported related to connectivity and infrastructure issues influencing appointment quality and modality options. While some studies reported additional costs, overall, studies indicated cost savings for patients. CONCLUSIONS There is a paucity of research on health technologies targeting rural equity-deserving groups, and the available research has primarily focused on women. While current evidence was primarily of high quality, research is needed inclusive of equity-deserving groups and interventions co-designed with users that integrate culturally sensitive approaches. Review registered with Prospero ID = CRD42021285994.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Burton
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Fathi Milad
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Robert Janke
- Department Of Library, University of British Columbia - Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Kathy L Rush
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Johnson NL, Steffensmeier KS, Garvin LA, Adamowicz JL, Obrecht AA, Rothmiller SJ, Sibenaller Z, Stout L, Driscoll MA, Hadlandsmyth K. "It Made Me Not Want to See him…": The Role of Patient-Provider Communication in Influencing Rural-Dwelling Women Veterans' Motivation to Seek Health Care for Managing Chronic Pain. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:1161-1174. [PMID: 37161286 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2207280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite being high health care utilizers, many women Veterans perceive their pain condition to be poorly understood by their providers, which can be a strong demotivator for seeking care. We set out to understand the priorities rural-dwelling women Veterans have for using health care for their chronic pain, and interviewed participants about their experiences with (and priorities for seeking) health care for their chronic pain. Self-Determination Theory identifies three sources of motivation (autonomy, competence, relatedness), all of which were represented through two themes that reflect rural women Veterans' rationale for decision-making to obtain health care for chronic pain: role of trust and competing priorities. Women described their priorities for chronic pain management in terms of their competing priorities for work, education, and supporting their family, but most expressed a desire to function in their daily life and relationships. Second, women discussed the role of trust in their provider as a source of motivation, and the role of patient-provider communication skills and gender played in establishing trust. Rural women Veterans often discussed core values that stemmed from facets of their identity (e.g. gender, military training, ethnicity) that also influenced their decision-making. Our findings provide insight for how providers may use Motivational Interviewing and discuss chronic pain treatment options so that rural-dwelling women Veterans feel autonomous, competent, and understood in their decision-making about their chronic pain. We also discuss importance of acknowledging the effects of disenfranchising talk and perpetuating gendered stereotypes related to chronic pain and theoretical implications of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Johnson
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | | | - Jenna L Adamowicz
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Ashlie A Obrecht
- Department of Primary Care, Veteran Affairs Central Iowa Health Care System
| | - Shamira J Rothmiller
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Zita Sibenaller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Lori Stout
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
| | - Mary A Driscoll
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
| | - Katherine Hadlandsmyth
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
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Ramalingam NS, Barnes C, Patzel M, Kenzie ES, Ono SS, Davis MM. "It's Like Finding Your Way Through the Labyrinth": a Qualitative Study of Veterans' Experiences Accessing Healthcare. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:596-602. [PMID: 37904070 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08442-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2014 Veterans Choice Act and subsequent 2018 Veteran's Affairs (VA) Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act (MISSION Act) are legislation which clarified Veteran access to healthcare provided by non-VA clinicians (community care). These policies are of particular importance to Veterans living in rural areas, who tend to live farther from VA medical facilities than urban Veterans. OBJECTIVE To understand Veterans' experiences of the MISSION Act and how it impacted their access to primary care to inform future interventions with a focus on reaching rural Veterans. DESIGN Qualitative descriptive design. PARTICIPANTS United States (US) Veterans in Northwestern states engaged in VA and/or community care. APPROACH Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of Veterans between August 2020 and September 2021. Interview domains focused on barriers and facilitators of healthcare access. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS We interviewed 28 Veterans; 52% utilized community care as their primary source of care and 36% were from rural or frontier areas. Three main themes emerged: (1) Veterans described their healthcare experiences as positive but also frustrating (billing and prior authorization were noted as top frustrations); (2) Veterans with medical complexities, living far from healthcare services, and/or seeking women's healthcare services experienced additional frustration due to increased touch points with VA systems and processes; and (3) financial resources and/or knowledge of the VA system insulated Veterans from frustration with healthcare navigation. CONCLUSIONS Despite provisions in the MISSION Act, Veteran participants described persistent barriers to healthcare access. Patient characteristics that required increased interaction with VA processes exacerbated these barriers, while financial resources and VA system knowledge mitigated them. Interventions to improve care coordination or address access barriers across VA and community care settings could improve access and reduce health inequities for Veterans-especially those with medical complexities, those living far from healthcare services, or those seeking women's healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- NithyaPriya S Ramalingam
- Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network, Portland, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Chrystal Barnes
- Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network, Portland, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Mary Patzel
- Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network, Portland, USA.
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA.
| | - Erin S Kenzie
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
- OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Portland, USA
| | - Sarah S Ono
- Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Portland, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health, Washington, D.C, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Melinda M Davis
- Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network, Portland, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Portland, USA
- Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Portland, USA
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Rohs CM, Albright KR, Monteith LL, Lane AD, Fehling KB. Perspectives of VA healthcare from rural women veterans not enrolled in or using VA healthcare. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289885. [PMID: 37578986 PMCID: PMC10424869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Women Veterans have unique healthcare needs and often experience comorbid health conditions. Despite this, many women Veterans are not enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and do not use VHA services. Underutilization of VHA services may be particularly prevalent among rural women Veterans, who may experience unique barriers to using VHA care. Nonetheless, knowledge of rural women Veterans and their experiences remains limited. We sought to understand rural women Veterans' perceptions and needs related to VHA healthcare, including barriers to enrolling in and using VHA services, and perspectives on how to communicate with rural women Veterans about VHA services. METHODS Rural women Veterans were recruited through community engagement with established partners and a mass mailing to rural women Veterans not enrolled in or using VHA healthcare. Ten virtual focus groups were conducted with a total of twenty-nine rural women Veterans (27 not enrolled in VHA care and 2 who had not used VHA care in the past 5 years) in 2021. A thematic inductive analytic approach was used to analyze focus group transcripts. FINDINGS Primary themes regarding rural women Veterans' perceptions of barriers to enrollment and use of VHA healthcare included: (1) poor communication about eligibility and the process of enrollment; (2) belief that VHA does not offer sufficient women's healthcare services; and (3) inconvenience of accessing VHA facilities. CONCLUSION Although VHA has substantially expanded healthcare services for women Veterans, awareness of such services and the nuances of eligibility and enrollment remains an impediment to enrolling in and using VHA healthcare among rural women Veterans. Recommended strategies include targeted communication with rural women Veterans not enrolled in VHA care to increase their awareness of the enrollment process, eligibility, and expansion of women's healthcare services. Creative strategies to address access and transportation barriers in rural locations are also needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly M. Rohs
- Seattle-Denver Center for Innovation (COIN), Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Karen R. Albright
- Seattle-Denver Center for Innovation (COIN), Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Lindsey L. Monteith
- VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Amber D. Lane
- Seattle-Denver Center for Innovation (COIN), Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kelty B. Fehling
- Seattle-Denver Center for Innovation (COIN), Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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Rahman MM, Rosenberg M, Flores G, Parsell N, Akter S, Alam MA, Rahman MM, Edejer T. A systematic review and meta-analysis of unmet needs for healthcare and long-term care among older people. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2022; 12:60. [PMID: 36482044 PMCID: PMC9733388 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-022-00398-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The absolute number of older individuals needing medical care and long-term care (LTC) is increasing globally due to the growing ageing population. However, it is uncertain who and what proportion of the population has access to care. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and reasons for unmet needs for healthcare and long-term care among older people, 65 years old and above, across countries was conducted. METHODS An information specialist performed a comprehensive search of four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL) from inception to June 2020 without restrictions on language and date. We did random-effects meta-analysis to obtain pooled prevalence. We stratified the meta-analysis by reasons for unmet need categorized by barrier dimension (availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability), survey year, geographic location, and socio-demographic characteristics of the older individual. RESULTS After screening 3912 articles, we included 101 studies published between 1996 and 2020. Of the 101 studies, 87 studies reported unmet healthcare needs and 14 studies reported unmet LTC needs. Overall, 10.4% (95% CI, 7.3-13.9) of the older population had unmet needs for healthcare. The common reasons for unmet healthcare needs were cost of treatment, lack of health facilities, lack of/conflicting time, health problem not viewed as serious, and mistrust/fear of provider. A significant variation in pooled prevalence of unmet healthcare needs due to cost was found by gender (male [10.9, 95% CI, 8.9-13.1] vs female [14.4, 95% CI, 11.8-17.3]), educational level (primary or less [13.3, 95% CI, 9.6-17.6] vs higher [7.5, 95% CI, 5.9-9.3]), self-reported health (poor [23.2, 95% CI, 18.8-27.8] vs good [4.4, 95% CI, 3.4-5.5]), insurance status (insured [9.0, 95% CI, 7.5-10.6] vs uninsured [27.7, 95% CI, 24.0-31.5]), and economic status of population (poorest [28.2, 95% CI, 14.1-44.9] vs richest [7.1, 95% CI, 3.8-11.3]). One in four (25.1, 95% CI, 17.1-34.2) older people had unmet needs in LTC. Rural residents had a higher prevalence of unmet needs in LTC compared to their urban counterparts. CONCLUSION With the population ageing globally, it is necessary to improve access to health care and LTC for older people. Ensuring affordability of health services, reducing geographical barriers, and improving acceptability, will be critical in reducing unmet need. Unmet needs for healthcare were concentrated in population with no education, poor economic group, outpatient health facility user, and uninsured group. With education and economic-based inequalities at the forefront, all countries should focus on improving access to health services by reducing the burden related to healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mizanur Rahman
- Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Megumi Rosenberg
- Centre for Health Development, World Health Organization, Kobe, Japan
| | - Gabriela Flores
- Department of Health Systems Governance and Financing, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Parsell
- Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shamima Akter
- Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Md Ashraful Alam
- Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Tessa Edejer
- Department of Health Systems Governance and Financing, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Cordasco KM, Yuan AH, Rollman JE, Moreau JL, Edwards LK, Gable AR, Hsiao JJ, Ganz DA, Vashi AA, Mehta PA, Jackson NJ. Veterans' Use of Telehealth for Veterans Health Administration Community Care Urgent Care During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic. Med Care 2022; 60:860-867. [PMID: 36126272 PMCID: PMC9555581 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has been an option for Veterans receiving urgent care through Veterans Health Administration Community Care (CC). OBJECTIVE We assessed use, arrangements, Veteran decision-making, and experiences with CC urgent care delivered via telehealth. DESIGN Convergent parallel mixed methods, combining multivariable regression analyses of claims data with semistructured Veteran interviews. SUBJECTS Veterans residing in the Western United States and Hawaii, with CC urgent care claims March 1 to September 30, 2020. KEY RESULTS In comparison to having in-person only visits, having a telehealth-only visit was more likely for Veterans who were non-Hispanic Black, were urban-dwelling, lived further from the clinic used, had a COVID-related visit, and did not require an in-person procedure. Predictors of having both telehealth and in-person (compared with in-person only) visits were other (non-White, non-Black) non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, urban-dwelling status, living further from the clinic used, and having had a COVID-related visit. Care arrangements varied widely; telephone-only care was common. Veteran decisions about using telehealth were driven by limitations in in-person care availability and COVID-related concerns. Veterans receiving care via telehealth generally reported high satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS CC urgent care via telehealth played an important role in providing Veterans with care access early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of telehealth differed by Veteran characteristics; lack of in-person care availability was a driver. Future work should assess for changes in telehealth use with pandemic progression, geographic differences, and impact on care quality, care coordination, outcomes, and costs to ensure Veterans' optimal and equitable access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Cordasco
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Anita H Yuan
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jeffrey E Rollman
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jessica L Moreau
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Lisa K Edwards
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alicia R Gable
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jonie J Hsiao
- Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - David A Ganz
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
| | - Anita A Vashi
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Paril A Mehta
- Office of Community Care, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
| | - Nicholas J Jackson
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
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Friedman S, Shaw JG, Hamilton AB, Vinekar K, Washington DL, Mattocks K, Yano EM, Phibbs CS, Johnson AM, Saechao F, Berg E, Frayne SM. Gynecologist Supply Deserts Across the VA and in the Community. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:690-697. [PMID: 36042097 PMCID: PMC9481821 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07591-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Veterans Health Administration (VA) refers patients to community providers for specialty services not available on-site. However, community-level specialist shortages may impede access to care. OBJECTIVE Compare gynecologist supply in veterans' county of residence versus at their VA site. DESIGN We identified women veteran VA patients from fiscal year (FY) 2017 administrative data and assessed availability of a VA gynecologist within 50 miles (hereafter called "local") of veterans' VA homesites (per national VA organizational survey data). For the same cohort, we then assessed community-level gynecologist availability; counties with < 2 gynecologists/10,000 women (per the Area Health Resource File) were "inadequate-supply" counties. We examined the proportion of women veterans with local VA gynecologist availability in counties with inadequate versus adequate gynecologist supply, stratified by individual and VA homesite characteristics. Chi-square tests assessed statistical differences. PARTICIPANTS All women veteran FY2017 VA primary care users nationally. MAIN MEASURES Availability of a VA gynecologist within 50 miles of a veteran's VA homesite; county-level "inadequate-supply" of gynecologists. KEY RESULTS Among 407,482 women, 9% were in gynecologist supply deserts (i.e., lacking local VA gynecologist and living in an inadequate-supply county). The sub-populations with the highest proportions in gynecologist supply deserts were rural residents (24%), those who got their primary care at non-VAMC satellite clinics (13%), those who got their care at a site without a women's clinic (13%), and those with American Indian or Alaska Native (12%), or white (12%) race. Among those in inadequate-supply counties, 59.9% had gynecologists at their local VA; however, 40.1% lacked a local VA gynecologist. CONCLUSIONS Most veterans living in inadequate-supply counties had local VA gynecology care, reflecting VA's critical role as a safety net provider. However, for those in gynecologist supply deserts, expanded transportation options, modified staffing models, or tele-gynecology hubs may offer solutions to extend VA gynecology capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Friedman
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- School of Public Health, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA.
| | - Jonathan G Shaw
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alison B Hamilton
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kavita Vinekar
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Donna L Washington
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristin Mattocks
- VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Leeds, MA, USA
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ciaran S Phibbs
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Fay Saechao
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Eric Berg
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Susan M Frayne
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Nicosia FM, Gibson CJ, Purcell N, Zamora K, Tighe J, Seal KH. Women Veterans' Experiences with Integrated, Biopsychosocial Pain Care: A Qualitative Study. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 22:1954-1961. [PMID: 33547797 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Biopsychosocial, integrated pain care models are increasingly implemented in the Veterans Health Administration to improve chronic pain care and reduce opioid-related risks, but little is known about how well these models address women veterans' needs. DESIGN Qualitative, interview-based study. SETTING San Francisco VA Health Care System Integrated Pain Team (IPT), an interdisciplinary team that provides short-term, personalized chronic pain care emphasizing functional goals and active self-management. SUBJECTS Women with chronic pain who completed ≥3 IPT sessions. METHODS Semistructured phone interviews focused on overall experience with IPT, perceived effectiveness of IPT care, pain care preferences, and suggested changes for improving gender-sensitive pain care. We used a rapid approach to qualitative thematic analysis to analyze interviews. RESULTS Fourteen women veterans (mean age 51 years; range 33-67 years) completed interviews. Interviews revealed several factors impacting women veterans' experiences: 1) an overall preference for receiving both primary and IPT care in gender-specific settings, 2) varying levels of confidence that IPT could adequately address gender-specific pain issues, 3) barriers to participating in pain groups, and 4) barriers to IPT self-management recommendations due to caregiving responsibilities. CONCLUSIONS Women veterans reported varied experiences with IPT. Recommendations to improve gender-sensitive pain care include increased provider training; increased knowledge of and sensitivity to women's health concerns; and improved accommodations for prior trauma, family and work obligations, and geographic barriers. To better meet the needs of women veterans with chronic pain, integrated pain care models must be informed by an understanding of gender-specific needs, challenges, and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca M Nicosia
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California.,Institute for Health and Aging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Carolyn J Gibson
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Natalie Purcell
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California.,Institute for Health and Aging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Kara Zamora
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California.,Department of Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jennifer Tighe
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California
| | - Karen H Seal
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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11
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Gaffey AE, Burg MM, Rosman L, Portnoy GA, Brandt CA, Cavanagh CE, Skanderson M, Dziura J, Mattocks KM, Bastian LA, Haskell SG. Baseline Characteristics from the Women Veterans Cohort Study: Gender Differences and Similarities in Health and Healthcare Utilization. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2021; 30:944-955. [PMID: 33439756 PMCID: PMC8290312 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: With the unprecedented expansion of women's roles in the U.S. military during recent (post-9/11) conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of women seeking healthcare through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has increased substantially. Women Veterans often present as medically complex due to multiple medical, mental health, and psychosocial comorbidities, and consequently may be underserved. Thus, we conducted the nationwide Women Veterans Cohort Study (WVCS) to examine post-9/11 Veterans' unique healthcare needs and to identify potential disparities in health outcomes and care. Methods: We present baseline data from a comprehensive questionnaire battery that was administered from 2016 to 2019 to a national sample of post-9/11 men and women Veterans who enrolled in Veterans Affairs care (WVCS2). Data were analyzed for descriptives and to compare characteristics by gender, including demographics; health risk factors and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and mental health; healthcare utilization, access, and insurance. Results: WVCS2 included 1,141 Veterans (51% women). Women were younger, more diverse, and with higher educational attainment than men. Women also endorsed lower traditional cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities (e.g., weight, hypertension) and greater nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., trauma, psychological symptoms). More women reported single-site pain (e.g., neck, stomach, pelvic) and multisite pain, but did not differ from men in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms or treatment for PTSD. Women seek care at VHA medical centers more frequently, often combined with outside health services, but do not significantly differ from men in their insurance coverage. Conclusion: Overall, this investigation indicates substantial variation in risk factors, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization among post-9/11 men and women Veterans. Further research is needed to determine best practices for managing women Veterans in the VHA healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison E. Gaffey
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Matthew M. Burg
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lindsey Rosman
- Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Galina A. Portnoy
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Cynthia A. Brandt
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Casey E. Cavanagh
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - James Dziura
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kristin M. Mattocks
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Research and Development, VA Central Western Massachusetts and Department of Quantitative Health Science, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Leeds, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lori A. Bastian
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine (General), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sally G. Haskell
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities and Education (PRIME) Center of Innovation, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine (General), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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12
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Garvin LA, Pugatch M, Gurewich D, Pendergast JN, Miller CJ. Interorganizational Care Coordination of Rural Veterans by Veterans Affairs and Community Care Programs: A Systematic Review. Med Care 2021; 59:S259-S269. [PMID: 33976075 PMCID: PMC8132902 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the unique context of rural Veterans' health care needs, expansion of US Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Care programs under the MISSION Act, and the uncertainties of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is critical to understand what may support effective interorganizational care coordination for increased access to high-quality care. OBJECTIVES We conducted a systematic review to examine the interorganizational care coordination initiatives that Veterans Affairs (VA) and community partners have pursued in caring for rural Veterans, including challenges and opportunities, organizational domains shaping care coordination, and among these, initiatives that improve or impede health care outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to search 2 electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2009 and May 2020. Building on prior research, we conducted a systematic review. RESULTS Sixteen articles met our criteria. Each captured a unique health care focus while examining common challenges. Four organizational domains emerged: policy and administration, culture, mechanisms, and relational practices. Exemplars highlight how initiatives improve or impede rural health care delivery. CONCLUSIONS This is the first systematic review, to our knowledge, examining interorganizational care coordination of rural Veterans by VA and Community Care programs. Results provide exemplars of interorganizational care coordination domains and program effectiveness. It suggests that partners' efforts to align their coordination domains can improve health care, with rurality serving as a critical contextual factor. Findings are important for policies, practices, and research of VA and Community Care partners committed to improving access and health care for rural Veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn A. Garvin
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Marianne Pugatch
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Deborah Gurewich
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
| | - Jacquelyn N. Pendergast
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System
| | - Christopher J. Miller
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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13
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Tsai J, Pietrzak RH, Szymkowiak D. The Problem of Veteran Homelessness: An Update for the New Decade. Am J Prev Med 2021; 60:774-780. [PMID: 33583678 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been a decade-long federal commitment to prevent and end homelessness among U.S. military veterans. Substantial progress has been made; so, a question that stakeholders ask is: Is veteran homelessness still a problem? METHODS To answer this question, 2 different data sources were analyzed in 2020: (1) a nationally representative community survey of 4,069 veterans conducted in 2019 and (2) national administrative data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on >6 million healthcare and homeless services in 2019. RESULTS In the community sample, the lifetime prevalence of adult homelessness was 10.2%, with the highest prevalence found in participants aged 30-44 years (19.9% prevalence). In the Veterans Affairs administrative data, 4.2% of all Veterans Affairs service users used homeless services (n=290,515 Veterans Affairs homeless services); 27.9% of these were first-time Veterans Affairs homeless service users. Veterans who were racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to report any lifetime adult homelessness, more likely to be identified as homeless in Veterans Affairs records, and more likely to have used any Veterans Affairs homeless program. There was no sex difference in the lifetime prevalence of homelessness, but Veterans Affairs records showed that male veterans were more likely to be identified as homeless and to use homeless programs, suggesting possible underidentification of female veteran homelessness. Across age, sex, and racial/ethnic groups, 35.1% of Veterans Affairs homeless service users used emergency department services in the same year. CONCLUSIONS There is a continued need to dedicate resources to address veteran homelessness across sociodemographic groups, and these data serve as a benchmark before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Tsai
- VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia; Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dorota Szymkowiak
- VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia
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14
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Hardin HK, Alchami H, Lee D, Jones MS. Unmet health need and perceived barriers to health care among adolescents living in a rural area. CHILDRENS HEALTH CARE 2020; 50:108-123. [PMID: 33424079 PMCID: PMC7787257 DOI: 10.1080/02739615.2020.1833333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the perceived health care needs, unmet health need, and barriers to health care in 224 rural-dwelling adolescents. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to survey adolescents attending a public high school in a low-resource, rural Indiana community. One in five adolescents reported an unmet health need. The most common barriers to health care were related to access, apathy, anxiety, and parenting issues. Implications include confidentiality protocols in family healthcare practices, school-based health centers, and intervention research targeting adolescents' communication skills and healthcare consumer skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather K. Hardin
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
| | - Hana Alchami
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
| | - David Lee
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
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15
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Dindo L, Roddy MK, Boykin D, Woods K, Rodrigues M, Smith TL, Gonzalez RD, True G. Combination outreach and wellness intervention for distressed rural veterans: results of a multimethod pilot study. J Behav Med 2020; 44:440-453. [DOI: 10.1007/s10865-020-00177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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16
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Schlosser J, Kollisch D, Johnson D, Perkins T, Olson A. VA-Community Dual Care: Veteran and Clinician Perspectives. J Community Health 2020; 45:795-802. [PMID: 32112237 PMCID: PMC7319870 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00795-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many veterans receive care in both community settings and the VA. Recent legislation has increased veteran access to community providers, raising concerns about safety and coordination. This project aimed to understand the benefits and challenges of dual care from the perceptions of both the Veterans their clinicians. We conducted surveys and focus groups of veterans who use both VA and community care in VT and NH. We also conducted a web-based survey and a focus group involving primary care clinicians from both settings. The main measures included (1) reasons that veterans seek care in both settings; (2) problems faced by veterans and clinicians; (3) association of health status and ease of managing care with sites of primary care; and (4) association of veteran rurality with dual care experiences. The primary reasons veterans reported for using both VA and community care were (1) for convenience, (2) to access needed services, and (3) to get a second opinion. Veterans reported that community and VA providers were informed about the others' care more than half the time. Veterans in isolated rural towns reported better overall health and ease of managing their care. VA and community primary care clinicians reported encountering systems problems with dual-care including communicating medication changes, sharing lab and imaging results, communicating with specialists, sharing discharge summaries and managing medication renewals. Both Veterans and their primary clinicians report substantial system issues in coordinating care between the VA and the community, raising the potential for significant patient safety and Veteran satisfaction concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Schlosser
- VA New England Healthcare System, the Manchester VA Medical Center, Manchester, USA.
- , Concord, USA.
| | - Donald Kollisch
- VA New England Healthcare System, the White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine At Dartmouth, Hanover, USA
| | | | - Troi Perkins
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | - Ardis Olson
- Geisel School of Medicine At Dartmouth, Hanover, USA
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17
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Etingen B, Patrianakos J, Wirth M, Hogan TP, Smith BM, Tarlov E, Stroupe KT, Kartje R, Weaver FM. TeleWound Practice Within the Veterans Health Administration: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Program Evaluation. JMIR Res Protoc 2020; 9:e20139. [PMID: 32706742 PMCID: PMC7399961 DOI: 10.2196/20139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic wounds, such as pressure injuries and diabetic foot ulcers, are a significant predictor of mortality. Veterans who reside in rural areas often have difficulty accessing care for their wounds. TeleWound Practice (TWP), a coordinated effort to incorporate telehealth into the provision of specialty care for patients with skin wounds, has the potential to increase access to wound care by allowing veterans to receive this care at nearby outpatient clinics or in their homes. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) is championing the rollout of the TWP, starting with regional implementation. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to describe the protocol for a mixed-methods program evaluation to assess the implementation and outcomes of TWP in VA. METHODS We are conducting a mixed-methods evaluation of 4 VA medical centers and their community-based outpatient clinics that are participating in the initial implementation of the TWP. Data will be collected from veterans, VA health care team members, and other key stakeholders (eg, clinical leadership). We will use qualitative methods (ie, semistructured interviews), site visits, and quantitative methods (ie, surveys, national VA administrative databases) to assess the process and reach of TWP implementation and its impact on veterans' clinical outcomes and travel burdens and costs. RESULTS This program evaluation was funded in October 2019 as a Partnered Evaluation Initiative by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Diffusion of Excellence Office, and Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative Program (PEC 19-310). CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of the TWP will identify barriers and solutions to TeleWound implementation in a small number of sites that can be used to inform successful rollout of the TWP nationally. Our evaluation work will inform future efforts to scale up the TWP across VA and optimize reach of the program to veterans across the nation. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/20139.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bella Etingen
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States
| | - Jamie Patrianakos
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States
| | - Marissa Wirth
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States
| | - Timothy P Hogan
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, United States.,Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Bridget M Smith
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Elizabeth Tarlov
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.,College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kevin T Stroupe
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.,Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Rebecca Kartje
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States
| | - Frances M Weaver
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.,Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
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18
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Pequeno NPF, Cabral NLDA, Marchioni DM, Lima SCVC, Lyra CDO. Quality of life assessment instruments for adults: a systematic review of population-based studies. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2020; 18:208. [PMID: 32605649 PMCID: PMC7329518 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01347-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Against a backdrop of population aging and improving survival rates for chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD), researchers are placing growing emphasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to identify the QoL assessment instruments used in population-based studies with adults conducted around the world. METHODS A systematic review of original research published in all languages between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were excluded. RESULTS Sixty-three articles (38.1% conducted in the Americas) fitted the eligibility criteria. Based on the AHRQ checklist for cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort studies, methodological quality was shown to be fair in the majority of studies (55.6%) and good in 44.4%. The country with the highest number of publications was Brazil (20.6%). Twelve types of generic instruments and 11 specific instruments were identified. The generic instrument SF-36 was the most frequently used measure (33.3% of studies). In-home interviewing was exclusively used by 47.6% of the studies, while 39 studies (61.9%) reported the use of self-administered questionnaires. Over two-thirds of the studies (34.9%) used questionnaires to investigate the association between chronic diseases and/or associated factors. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that the wide range of instruments and modes of questionnaire administration used by the studies may hinder comparisons between population groups with the same characteristics or needs. There is a lack of research on QoL and the factors affecting productive capacity. Studies of QoL in older persons should focus not only on the effects of disease and treatment, but also on the determinants of active aging and actions designed to promote it. Further research is recommended to determine which QoL instruments are best suited for population-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nila Patrícia Freire Pequeno
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 1787, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brazil.
- Department of Nutrition at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, CEP 59078-970, Brazil.
| | - Natália Louise de Araújo Cabral
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 1787, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Dirce Maria Marchioni
- Department of Nutrition of the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Severina Carla Vieira Cunha Lima
- Department of Nutrition at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, CEP 59078-970, Brazil
| | - Clélia de Oliveira Lyra
- Department of Nutrition at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, CEP 59078-970, Brazil
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19
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Vance B, Alhussain K, Sambamoorthi U. Five-year trend in healthcare access and patient-reported health outcomes among women veterans. Nurs Forum 2020; 55:165-173. [PMID: 31729039 PMCID: PMC7397546 DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to describe the five-year trend in healthcare access, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and health outcomes in women Veterans. METHODS A retrospective, pooled, cross-sectional study design was employed. Five-year trend was assessed using 2013 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Bivariate, multivariable logistic regression, and ordinary least squares regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS A total of 6561 women Veterans, aged 18 to 64 years (3534 in 2013 and 3027 in 2017) were included. Compared to 2013, more women Veterans in 2017 reported increased healthcare insurance and decreased cost as a barrier to care. Women Veterans with health insurance were less likely to report cost as a barrier to care. There were no statistically significant differences in HRQoL in bivariate or ordinary least squares regression analyses between BRFSS years. CONCLUSION Federal policy and Veterans Health Administration expansion have had an impact on improving healthcare access to women Veterans. However, increased healthcare access alone does not translate into improved HRQoL or health outcomes for women Veterans. Future policies should not only focus on increasing healthcare access, but also improving health outcomes, especially HRQoL. The quality of the healthcare accessed must be a focus for future research and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billie Vance
- Adult Health Department, School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Khalid Alhussain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al‐Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Usha Sambamoorthi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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20
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Than C, Chuang E, Washington DL, Needleman J, Canelo I, Meredith LS, Yano EM. Understanding Gender Sensitivity of the Health Care Workforce at the Veterans Health Administration. Womens Health Issues 2020; 30:120-127. [PMID: 32094056 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender sensitivity of providers and staff has assumed increasing importance in closing historical gender disparities in health care quality and outcomes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented several initiatives intended to improve gender sensitivity of its health care workforce. The current study examines practice- and individual-level characteristics associated with gender sensitivity of primary care providers (PCPs) and staff. METHODS We surveyed PCPs and staff (nurses, medical assistants, and clerks) at 12 VA medical centers (VAMCs) (n = 256 of 649; response rate, 39%). Gender sensitivity was measured using a 10-item scale adapted from the Gender Awareness Inventory-VA. We used weighted multivariate regression with maximum likelihood estimation to identify individual- and practice-level characteristics associated with gender sensitivity of PCPs and staff. RESULTS PCPs and staff had similar gender sensitivity but differed in most characteristics associated with that gender sensitivity. Among PCPs, women's health training and positive communication with others in the clinic were associated with greater gender sensitivity. For staff, prior work experience caring for women, working in Women's Health Patient-Aligned Care Teams, and rural location were associated with greater gender sensitivity, whereas more years of VA service was associated with lower gender sensitivity. Working at VA medical centers with a higher volume of women veteran patients was associated with greater gender sensitivity for both PCPs and staff. CONCLUSIONS Women's health training and experience in working with other women's health professionals are strongly correlated with greater gender sensitivity in the clinical workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Than
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California
| | - Emmeline Chuang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California
| | - Donna L Washington
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jack Needleman
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California
| | - Ismelda Canelo
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California.
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21
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Gawron LM, Mohanty AF, Kaiser JE, Gundlapalli AV. Impact of Deployment on Reproductive Health in U.S. Active-Duty Servicewomen and Veterans. Semin Reprod Med 2019; 36:361-370. [PMID: 31003251 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive-age women are a fast-growing component of active-duty military personnel who experience deployment and combat more frequently than previous service-era women Veterans. With the expansion of the number of women and their roles, the United States Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have prioritized development and integration of reproductive services into their health systems. Thus, understanding associations between deployments or combat exposures and short- or long-term adverse reproductive health outcomes is imperative for policy and programmatic development. Servicewomen and women Veterans may access reproductive services across civilian and military or Veteran systems and providers, increasing the need for awareness and communication regarding deployment experiences with a broad array of providers. An example is the high prevalence of military sexual trauma reported by women Veterans and the associated mental health diagnoses that may lead to a lifetime of high risk-coping behaviors that increase reproductive health risks, such as sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, and others. Care coordination models that integrate reproductive healthcare needs, especially during vulnerable times such as at the time of military separation and in the immediate postdeployment phase, may identify risk factors for early intervention with the potential to mitigate lifelong risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori M Gawron
- Informatics, Decision Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - April F Mohanty
- Informatics, Decision Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jennifer E Kaiser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Adi V Gundlapalli
- Informatics, Decision Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
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22
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Guerrero APS, Balon R, Beresin EV, Louie AK, Coverdale JH, Brenner A, Roberts LW. Rural Mental Health Training: an Emerging Imperative to Address Health Disparities. ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY : THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY 2019; 43:1-5. [PMID: 30535843 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-018-1012-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Adam Brenner
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
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23
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O'Shea AMJ, Fortis S, Vaughan Sarrazin M, Moeckli J, Yarbrough WC, Schacht Reisinger H. Outcomes comparison in patients admitted to low complexity rural and urban intensive care units in the Veterans Health Administration. J Crit Care 2018; 49:64-69. [PMID: 30388490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate mortality, length of stay, and inter-hospital transfer in the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) among low complexity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD Retrospective study of adult ICU admissions identified in VHA Medical SAS®; 2010-2015 at Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. Facilities classified by the Rural Urban Commuting Area code algorithm as large rural (referred to as rural) (N = 6) or urban (N = 33). RESULTS In rural hospitals, patients (N = 9665) were less likely to have a respiratory (12.9% v. 18.9%; p < .001) diagnosis, more likely diagnosed with sepsis (17.6% v. 4.9%), and had a higher illness severity score (42.0 vs. 41.4; p = .01) compared to urban (N = 65,846) counterparts. Mortality within ICU did not vary across facility rurality. In unadjusted analyses, facility rurality (rural vs. urban) was associated with reduced inter-hospital transfers (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = [0.69, 0.80]; p < .001) and a shorter ICU length of stay (RR = 0.82; 95% CI = [0.74, 0.91]; p < .001). This did not hold when the hierarchical data was accounted for. CONCLUSIONS Despite challenges, low complexity ICUs in rural VA facilities fare similarly to urban counterparts. Being part of a national healthcare system may have benefits to explore in sustaining critical care access in rural areas outside the VA healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M J O'Shea
- Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Spyridon Fortis
- Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Mary Vaughan Sarrazin
- Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jane Moeckli
- Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - W C Yarbrough
- Department Pulmonary/Critical Care, VA North Texas Healthcare System, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, U.T. Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Heather Schacht Reisinger
- Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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24
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Lorenzen AW, Kiriazov B, De Andrade JP, Lizarraga IM, Scott-Conner CE, Sugg SL, Erdahl LM, Sun W, Weigel RJ. Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment in a Rural Community. Ann Surg Oncol 2018; 25:3004-3010. [PMID: 30030731 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-018-6574-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to health care poses particular challenges for patients living in rural communities. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) offers a treatment alternative to traditional whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT) for select patients. This study aimed to analyze the use of IORT for patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery at an academic institution located in a rural state. METHODS A retrospective review analyzed all patients at a single institution with a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer from April 2012 to January 2017 who were undergoing breast-conserving surgery with either IORT or WBRT. Student's t test or Fisher's exact test was used to make statistical comparisons. RESULTS Patients undergoing IORT (n = 117) were significantly older than patients treated with WBRT (n = 191) (65.6 vs 58.6 years; p < 0.001) and had smaller tumors on both preoperative imaging (1.04 vs 1.66 cm; p < 0.05) and final pathology (0.99 vs 1.48 cm; p < 0.05). Patients receiving IORT lived farther from the treating facility than patients treated with WBRT (67.2 vs 30.8 miles; p < 0.05). To account for biases created in the IORT selection criteria, subgroup analysis was performed for women receiving WBRT who fulfilled IORT selection criteria, and distance traveled remained significant (67.2 vs 31.4 miles; p < 0.05). Neither recurrence nor survival differed between the IORT and WBRT groups. Medicare reimbursement for IORT was approximately 50% more than for WBRT. CONCLUSIONS For women from rural communities, IORT appears to be an attractive option because these women tend to be older and to live farther from the treatment facility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boris Kiriazov
- Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sonia L Sugg
- Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Wenqing Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ronald J Weigel
- Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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Cordasco KM, Katzburg JR, Katon JG, Zephyrin LC, Chrystal JG, Yano EM. Care coordination for pregnant veterans: VA’s Maternity Care Coordinator Telephone Care Program. Transl Behav Med 2018; 8:419-428. [DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibx081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Cordasco
- VA Center for The Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), North Hills, CA, USA
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judith R Katzburg
- VA Center for The Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), North Hills, CA, USA
- VA Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), North Hills, CA, USA
| | - Jodie G Katon
- Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value Driven Care, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Laurie C Zephyrin
- Women’s Health Services, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
- VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joya G Chrystal
- VA Center for The Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), North Hills, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA Center for The Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), North Hills, CA, USA
- Department of Health Policy & Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Moreau JL, Cordasco KM, Young AS, Oishi SM, Rose DE, Canelo I, Yano EM, Haskell SG, Hamilton AB. The Use of Telemental Health to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Women Using Department of Veterans Affairs Services. Womens Health Issues 2018; 28:181-187. [DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Zuchowski JL, Hamilton AB, Washington DL, Gomez AG, Veet L, Cordasco KM. Drivers of Continuing Education Learning Preferences for Veterans Affairs Women's Health Primary Care Providers. THE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS 2017; 37:168-172. [PMID: 28817394 DOI: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Documented gaps in health professionals' training in women's health are a special concern for continuing education (CE). In the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, women veterans are a numerical minority, preferably assigned to designated women's health primary care providers (DWHPs). DWHPs need to maintain their knowledge and skills in women's health topics, in addition to general internal medicine topics. We explored drivers of VA DWHPs' learning preferences for women's health topics-ie, factors which influence greater and lesser learning interest. METHODS We conducted semistructured telephone interviews with DWHPs across six VA health care systems. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded in ATLAS.ti. We synthesized results by grouping relevant coded sections of text to form emergent themes. RESULTS Among the 31 DWHPs interviewed, reported drivers of learning interests among women's health topics were (1) high frequency of clinical incidence of particular issues; (2) perceived appropriateness of particular issues for management in primary care settings; and (3) perceived appropriateness of particular issues for partial management in primary care. Lower interest in particular women's health topics was associated with (1) perceived existing competency or recent training in an issue and (2) perceived need for specialty care management of an issue. DISCUSSION Understanding drivers of DWHPs' CE learning priorities lays a foundation for developing CE programming that will be of interest to women's health primary care providers. Attention to drivers of learning interests may have applicability beyond women's health, suggesting a general approach for CE programming that prioritizes high-volume topics within the practice scope of target providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Zuchowski
- Dr. Zuchowski: VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA. Dr. Hamilton: VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA, and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. Drs. Washington and Cordasco: VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA; Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, and Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Gomez: Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, and Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Veet: VA Women's Health Services, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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