185766 21st Century Telemedicine Strategies for Rural Veterans

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Kara Hawthorne, MSW , Office of Rural Health, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
Ryung Suh, MD MPH MPP MBA , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Sarah Johnson , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Shivaani Prakash , Department of Health Systems Administration, SNHS, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Richard Hartman, PhD , Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Planning, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
VA researchers' findings suggest that collaborative care models can be successfully adapted using telemedicine to address rural disparities. A recently completed study found significant increases in quality of life and other positive factors on several different scales when using telemedicine to complement pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depression in rural patients. Telemedicine/telehealth approaches are especially important for reaching veterans in rural and highly rural areas given the inherent challenges of access and the availability of facilities/workforce in rural communities. This session reviews the broader evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine approaches among rural veterans, outlines the experience of the VA's Office of Rural Health in utilizing care coordination and home telehealth strategies for providing quality care to rural veterans, and highlights potential strategies for reaching rural veterans using innovative telemedicine models in the 21st century and beyond.

Learning Objectives:
Review the effectiveness of telemedicine approaches for improving access and quality of care for rural veterans Outline the experience of the VA's Office of Rural Health in utilizing telemedicine strategies to reach rural veterans Explore innovative telemedicine models that are being tested among rural veteran populations

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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