185738 Collaborative Strategies in Rural Settings: Improving Access to Quality Care for Veterans

Monday, October 27, 2008

Richard Hartman, PhD , Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Planning, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
Kara Hawthorne, MSW , Office of Rural Health, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
Sarah Johnson , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Jaspal Ahluwalia, MD, MPH , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Ryung Suh, MD MPH MPP MBA , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
The VA has a network of valuable facilities and resources employing seemingly effective strategies for reaching rural veterans; yet, there are perceptions that are often echoed in the literature and among rural health experts that the VA may sometimes fall short of expectations in reaching all rural veterans and that the VA must more effectively collaborate with the existing rural health infrastructure. This broader rural health care infrastructure includes a network of facilities, resources, agencies, and stakeholders with valuable experience in reaching rural residents, and many of the directions for research and exploration of new care delivery models aim to better understand the dynamics of how rural veterans seek and receive care and to better understand the effectiveness and impacts of various strategies that might be pursued by the VA or supported by the Office of Rural Health (ORH). The VA is actively exploring strategies that promote better intersectoral collaboration and improved access to care for rural veterans. This session outlines the current collaborative strategies supported by the VA's ORH and highlights successes and best practices to date.

Learning Objectives:
Identify intersectoral collaborative strategies being utilized by the VA's Office of Rural Health to improve access for rural veterans Highlight successes and best practices that promote collaboration across health systems and facilities Explore new care delivery models and health services research directions for improving collaboration in rural settings

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I reviewed and participated in planning and research activities, to include a literature review, structured interviews, internal VA review, and environmental scan for the VA Office of Rural Health, as well as contributed to the Office of Rural Health strategic plan.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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