Rural women's veterans health program

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has historically and primarily served male Veterans; however, in recent years, as women have served in greater numbers in all services of the active military, there has been a subsequent increase in the number of female Veterans seeking care from the VA. In seeking to promote the health, welfare, and dignity of women Veterans by ensuring access to timely, comprehensive, and quality health care for women Veterans, the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) developed a baseline assessment that supports the planning process for the implementation of a comprehensive women's health care program in rural areas. The assessment included a literature review, examination of archival data, review of focus group data, and site visits at four VA-staffed Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Results indicate that rural women Veterans in VISN 5 may encounter challenges in finding women's health services information; affordable and reliable transportation; convenient appointments and timely follow-up; family-friendly amenities; adequate auditory/visual privacy; and gender-specific services provided by qualified women's health providers. Based on the assessment findings, the project team developed six distinct recommendations: Expand and improve quality of services, increase outreach efforts, develop more robust analytical methods, develop women's health specific training programs, foster collaborative and sustainable local relationships; and explore complementary and alternative medicine options for women Veterans.