In 2008, ORH established three different resource centers to serve as field-based laboratories engaging in studies as well as implementation and evaluation of innovative practices to support the unique health care needs of Veterans residing in rural areas. Their missions also include serving as national rural health experts for field-based staff and other stakeholders, as well as facilitating the exchange and dissemination of information geared towards improving access and quality of care for rural Veterans.
In this issue, we are highlighting the work of the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Eastern Region (VRHRC-CR), with sites at VA Medical Centers in Gainesville, Florida; White River Junction, Vermont; and Augusta, Maine. Among the Eastern Region's major areas of emphasis are: (1) health care access and quality, (2) telehealth technology for specialty care and rehabilitation, and (3) education and training of rural health care providers.
 Paul Hoffman, MD
Director |
The Director of the VRHRC-ER is Paul M. Hoffman, M.D. Dr. Hoffman is a neurologist and during his 33 year career with the Department of Veterans Affairs has held several positions at VA Medical Centers and VA Central Office, including Director of Medical Research Service, Office of Research and Development. Dr. Hoffman led the creation of the Rural Health Mobility Evaluation Clinic at the Lake City VA Medical Center. This clinic serves as a model of care coordination for rural Veterans with mobility deficits and for
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implementation of distance technology. As lead physician of the clinic, Dr. Hoffman coordinates primary and neurologic care, neuro-rehabilitation, speech and language pathology and social work for Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dr. Hoffman also leads the Rural Health Training Program (RHTP), a joint initiative with the University of Florida College of Nursing and the Florida State University College of Medicine.
 Alan West, PhD
Deputy Director |
Deputy Director, Dr. Alan West, leads the Eastern Region’s Evaluation and Analysis Core, which assists in the development and execution of the evaluation component of VRHRC-ER and ORH projects. Dr. West is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine and of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School; as a clinical psychologist, he worked for several years on the White River Junction VA Medical Center Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team.
The Eastern Region has its own GeoSpatial Outcomes Division (GSOD) which uses Graphic Information System (GIS) software to generate maps that translate tremendous amounts of data into a “snapshot” that can be more easily interpreted. Led by Dr. Diane Cowper Ripley, GSOD Director, they recently completed geographical needs assessments for all 21 VA Regions. These assessments will help identify potential access gaps in primary, acute, and tertiary care in rural and highly rural areas. 
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