Collaboration as an approach to improving community health, including the health of veterans

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) maintains a strong commitment to the well-being of the veterans they serve. VHA facilities operate in the context of the communities where they are situated and the health of veterans is often connected to the health of their family and-or caregiver, typically receiving care in the community. This session will present findings about collaboration efforts and opportunities between VHA medical facilities, Local-Health-Departments (LHDs)/CBOs and local healthcare systems that improve community health. Information collected through semi-structured-discussions with staff at 15 geographically-dispersed VHA facilities and LHDs /CBOs in 4 communities focused on collaborations around influenza and other vaccinations as well as on addressing the needs of the homeless. Selection criteria included size and urbanicity. Size, personal connections, and organizational-culture were related to VHA-initiated collaboration. LHDs frequently did not consider VHA for collaboration. Conclusions/Recommendations will include approaches successfully used as well as the discussion of tools to promote collaboration.