Monthly Fact Sheets

Current Fact Sheet

May 2013 (368 KB, PDF)
Volume 3 Issue 8

• Solutions to Telemental Health Barriers
• Health Care Access

View all ORH fact sheets

Back to top

Quarterly Newsletter - 'The Rural Connection'

Current Newsletter

March 2013
Volume 3 Issue 2

• What's new in the Office of Rural Health?

View previous issues of "The Rural Connection" newsletter

Back to top

Resource Center Issue Briefs

Spring 2013

• Issue Brief #2
  New! Improving Accessibility: VISN 11 Mobile Prosthetics Van Program (382 KB, PDF)
  Sherri DeLoof, LMSW, VISN 11 Rural Health Consultant; Guadalupe Bravo, CP; Ernest Howard, MA, CO, FAAOP; Michael Rilenge, VISN 11 Prosthetic Manager
  
  
• Issue Brief #1
  Unique Factors Rural VA Hospitals Face in Implementing Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention Initiatives (216 KB, PDF)
  Molly Harrod, Ph.D.; Milisa Manojlovich, Ph.D.; Christine P. Kowalski, MPH1; Sanjay Saint, M.D.; Sarah L. Krein, Ph.D.
  
  

Winter 2012

• Issue Brief #2
  Transfer of Information from Personal Health Records: A Survey of Veterans Using My HealtheVet (337 KB, PDF)
  Carolyn L. Turvey, PhD; Donna M. Zulman, MD, MS; Kim M. Nazi, FACHE, MA; Bonnie J. Wakefield, PhD, RN, FAAN; Susan S. Woods, MD, MPH; Timothy P. Hogan, PhD; Frances M. Weaver, PhD; Keith McInnes, ScD, MS
  
  
• Issue Brief #1 
  Antiretroviral Adherence Among Rural Compared to Urban Veterans with HIV Infection in the United States (621 KB, PDF)
  Michael Ohl, Eli Perencevich, D. Keith McInnes, Nancy Kim, David Rimland, Kathleen Akgun, David Fiellin, Melissa Skanderson, Karen Wang, Amy Justice
  
  

Fall 2012

• Issue Brief #4
  Geographic Isolation Shows Higher Risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary-Disease Related Mortality: A Cohort Study (167 KB, PDF)
  Thad E. Abrams, MD, MS, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, PhD, Vince S. Fan, MD, MPH, Peter J. Kaboli, MD, MS
  
  
• Issue Brief #3
  My HealtheVet Users: Preliminary Evidence on Rural Reach and Usage (404 KB, PDF)
  Susan Woods, MD, MPH, Kim Nazi, PhD(c), FACHE, Frances Weaver, PhD, Carolyn Turvey, PhD
  
  
• Issue Brief #2
  Effects of Rural Residence on VA Care of Persons Living with HIV (322 KB, PDF)
  Rural Residence and Adoption of a Novel HIV Therapy in a National, Equal-access Healthcare System
  Ohl, M.E., Lund, B., Belperio, P., Goetz, M., Rimland, D., Richardson, K., Justice, A., Perencevich, E., Vaughn-Sarrazin, M., VA Office of Rural Health (ORH), Rural Health Resource Center—Central Region, Iowa City VAMC, Iowa City, IA
  Rural Residence is Associated with Delayed Care Entry and Increased Mortality Among Veterans with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
  Michael Ohl, MD, MSPH; Janet Tate, MPH; Dona Duggal, MD, MHS; Melissa Skanderson, MSW; Matthew Scotch, PhD, MPH; Peter Kaboli, MD, MS; Mary Vaughn-Sarrazin, PhD; Amy Justice, MD, PhD
  
  
• Issue Brief #1
  Accurate and Timely Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases in Veterans Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan (201 KB, PDF)
  Stephanie Borchardt, PhD, Marilyn G. Klug, PhD 
  
  

Summer 2012

• Issue Brief #1
  VISN 16: Developing a VA/Clergy Partnership to Increase Access to Mental Health Services among Rural Veterans (256 KB, PDF)
  Steve Sullivan, M.Div, Th.M, Greer Sullivan, MD, MSPH
  
  

Spring 2012

• Issue Brief #3
  Rural Veterans’ Use of CBOCs for Primary Care: FY07 (1.0 MB, PDF)
  Michelle A. Mengeling, PhD, and Mary Charlton, PhD
  
  

Winter 2011

• Issue Brief #9
  A Mixed-Method Evaluation of Challenges and Opportunities in the Care of Rural Veterans in VISN 23 (869 KB, PDF)
  Colin Buzza, MSc, Sarah Ono, PhD, Stacy Wittrock, MA, Matt Noble, MPH, Gautam Reddy, MPH, Peter J. Kaboli, MD, MS, Heather Schacht Reisinger, PhD
  
  
• Issue Brief #7
  Electronic Health Information Exchange Between VHA System and Private Providers (816 KB, PDF)
  Keith J. Mueller, PhD, Michelle Lampman, MA
  
  
• Issue Brief #6
  Impact of Tele-ICU Coverage on Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (853 KB, PDF)
  Lance Brendan Young, PhD, MBA, Paul S. Chan, MD, MSc, Xin Lu, MS, Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, MD, MPH,
  Comilla Sasson, MD, MS, Peter Cram, MD, MBA
  
  
• Issue Brief #5
  Expanding Audiology Services to CBOCs: Bringing Care Closer to Veterans (824 KB, PDF)
  Dennis Barrett, MHA, Kathleen Dziak, MBA, MHA, Peter Kaboli, MD
  
  
• Issue Brief #4
  VAMC Facility Rurality: Comparison of Three Classification Approaches (690 KB, PDF)
  Peter J. Kaboli, MD, MS, Justin M. Glasgow, MS
  
  
• Issue Brief #3
  Mortality and Revascularization Following Admission for AMI: Implications for Rural Veterans (495 KB, PDF)
  Thad E. Abrams, MD, MS, Mary Vaughn-Sarrazin, PhD, Peter J. Kaboli, MD, MS
  
  
• Issue Brief #2
  Tobacco Use Among Rural Veterans (736 KB, PDF)
  Mark Vander Weg, PhD Cassie Cunningham, BS
  
  
• Issue Brief #1
  Veterans’ Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Exposure (784 KB, PDF)
  Mark Vander Weg, PhD Cassie Cunningham, BS

Spring 2011

• Issue Brief #7
  Veterans Evaluate Telehealth MOVE! VISN 12’s Clinical Video Telehealth Initiative (836 KB, PDF)
  Thomas F. Klobucar, PhD, Stacy Wittrock, MA, Isatu Hughes, MBA
  
  

Back to top

Project Summary Briefs

• VISN 23: Rural Healthcare Provider Retention Strategies (770 KB, PDF)
  2012
  Linda R. Blake, MBA, Mary Charlton, PhD, Russel Peal, Jose Ramos, PhD, Peter Kaboli, MD, MS
  
  
• Tele-ICU Implementation in VISN 23: Lessons Learned for VA's Rural Hospitals (961 KB, PDF)
  2012
  Jane Moeckli, PhD; Heather Schacht Reisinger, PhD; Cassie Cunningham, MPH; Robert S. Bonello, MD; Kay L. Clutter, RN, PhD; Peter Cram, MD, MBA
  
  
• VISN 12: Expanding Audiology Services into Rural Outpatient Clinics (1 MB, PDF)
  2011
  Jeffrey L. Evanson, Kristin J. Valest, MS, PT
  
  
• VISN 12: Establishing an Outreach Clinic to Serve Rural Veterans (885 KB, PDF)
  2011
  Larry Heers, BA, Health Systems Specialist
  
  
• VISN 15: Providing Sleep Lab Services to Rural Veterans (727 KB, PDF)
  2011
  Melinda Young, BSN, RN, John J. Pershing, VAMC Off-Station Facilitator, Kevin Lovette, MSN, RN, VISN 15 Rural Consultant
  
  

Back to top

Journal Articles

• New! The Use of Collaboration Science to Define Consensus Outcome Measures: A Telemental Health Case Study
  April 2013
  Matthew C. Mishkind, PhD, Charles R. Doarn, MBA, Jordana Bernard, MBA, and Jay H. Shore, MD, MPH
  
  
• New! Provider Barriers to Telemental Health: Obstacles Overcome, Obstacles Remaining
  April 2013
  Elizabeth Brooks, PhD, Carolyn Turvey, PhD, and Eugene F. Augusterfer, LCSW
  
  
• A Population Approach to Mitigating the Long-Term Health Effects of Combat Deployments
  September 2012
  Heather Schacht Reisinger, PhD; Stephen C. Hunt, MD, MPH; A. Lucile Burgo-Black, MD; Madhulika A. Agarwal, MD, MPH
  
  
• Alabama Veterans Rural Health Initiative: A Preliminary Evaluation of Unmet Health Care Needs (145 KB, PDF)
  2011
  Lori L. Davis, Stefan G. Kertesz, Ann F. Mahaney-Price, Michelle Y. Martin, Kroshona D. Tabb, Kristin M. Pettey, Sandre F. McNeal, U. Shanette Granstaff, Karl Hamner, M. Paige Powell, Michelle M. Hilgeman, A. Lynn Snow, Marietta Stanton, Patricia Parmelee, Mark S. Litaker, and Mary T. Hawn
  
  
• The cost-effectiveness of telestroke in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke
  October 2011
  R.E. Nelson, PhD; G.M. Saltzman, PhD; E.J. Skalabrin, MD; B.M. Demaerschalk, MD, MSc, FRCP(C);
  J.J. Majersik, MD, MS
  
  
• Improving Access to VA Care
  November 2011
  John Fortney, PhD; Peter Kaboli, MD; Seth Eisen, MD, MSc
  
  
• A Re-conceptualization of Access for 21st Century Healthcare
  November 2011
  John C. Fortney, PhD; James F. Burgess, Jr., PhD; Hayden B. Bosworth, PhD; Brenda M. Booth, PhD; Peter J. Kaboli, MD
  
  
• Distance is Relative: Unpacking a Principal Barrier in Rural Healthcare
  November 2011
  Colin Buzza, MSc; Sarah S. Ono, PhD; Carolyn Turvey, PhD; Stacy Wittrock, MA; Matt Noble, MPH; Gautam Reddy, MPH; Peter J. Kaboli, MD, MS; Heather Schacht Reisinger, PhD
  
  
• Defining Core Issues in Utilizing Information Technology to Improve Access: Evaluation and Research Agenda
  November 2011
  George L. Jackson, PhD, MHA; Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN; Dale C. Alverson, MD; Adam W. Darkins, MD, MPH; William Gunnar, MD, JD; Nancy D. Harada, PhD, PT; Christian D. Helfrich, PhD, MPH; Thomas K. Houston, MD, MPH; Thomas F. Klobucar, PhD; Kim M. Nazi, PhD; Ronald K. Poropatich, MD; James D. Ralston, MD, MPH;
  Hayden B. Bosworth, PhD
  
  
• Promoting Access Through Complementary eHealth Technologies: Recommendations for VA’s Home Telehealth and Personal Health Record Programs
  November 2011
  Timothy P. Hogan, PhD; Bonnie Wakefield, PhD, RN; Kim M. Nazi, MA; Thomas K. Houston, MD, MPH;
  Frances M. Weaver, PhD
  
  
• VA Community Mental Health Service Providers’ Utilization of and Attitudes Toward Telemental Health Care: The Gatekeeper’s Perspective
  Winter 2011
  John Paul Jameson; PhD; Mary Sue Farmer; PhD; Katharine J. Head; MA; John Fortney; PhD; Cayla R. Teal; PhD
  
  
• Partnering With Communities to Address the Mental Health Needs of Rural Veterans
  Winter 2011
  JoAnn E. Kirchner, MD; Mary Sue Farmer, MS, PhDc; Valorie M. Shue, BA; Dean Blevins, PhD; Greer Sullivan, MD
  
  
• Rural Residence Is Associated With Delayed Care Entry and Increased Mortality Among Veterans With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
  December 2010
  Michael Ohl, MD, MSPH; Janet Tate, MPH; Mona Duggal, MD, MHS; Melissa Skanderson, MSW; Matthew Scotch, PhD, MPH; Peter Kaboli, MD, MS; Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, PhD; Amy Justice, MD, PhD
  
  
• Reaching Out to Older Veterans in Need: The Elko Clinic Demonstration Project
  Fall 2010
  Meghan Juretic, MS; ,Robert Hill, PhD, ABPP; Marilyn Luptak, PhD, MSW; Randall Rupper, MD; Byron Bair, MD;
  James Floyd, ACHE; Brian Westfield,NP-C; Nancy K. Dailey, MSN, RN-BC
  
  
• Impact of Rural Residence on Survival of Male Veterans Affairs Patients After Age 65
  Fall 2010
  Todd A. MacKenzie, PhD; Amy E. Wallace, MD, MPH; William B. Weeks, MD, MBA
  
  
• Defining “Rural” for Veterans’ Health Care Planning
  Fall 2010
  Alan N. West, PhD; Richard E. Lee, MPH; Michael D. Shambaugh-Miller, PhD; Byron D. Bair, MD; Keith J. Mueller, PhD;
  Ryan S. Lilly, MPA; Peter J. Kaboli, MD; Kara Hawthorne, MSW
  
  

Back to top

Presentations

• Re-conceptualizing VA access: Practice and Policy Implications
  April 2012 - National Rural Health Association Annual Conference
  Presented by Peter Kaboli, M.D., Mary Charlton, Ph.D., Thomas Klobucar, Ph.D.

  This interactive presentation reviewed recent work on re-conceptualization of access and addressed these themes: newly published conceptual model of health care access, access-related measurement issues, patient perspective of access, how multiple health care systems and payers of care can collaborate/compete and how technology can overcome access barriers. For a copy of the presentation, please contact Lindsay Hall*.

• National Rural Health Day, "Caring for Rural Veterans" (2.9 MB, PDF)
  November 17, 2011
  Presented by Mary Beth Skupien, Ph.D., MS, RN, Director, VHA Office of Rural Health
  
  
• Oral Statement of Mary Beth Skupien, PhD, Director, Office of Rural Health (137 KB, PDF)
  June 20, 2011
  Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health United States House of Representatives
  
  
• Poster - The Department of Veterans Affairs Collaboration with Rural Community Health Centers Project (3.2 MB, PDF)
  May 2011
  Allen Berkowitz, PhD, Susan B. Walter, MSW, Hilda Heady, MSW, ACSW, Veronica Jackson
  
  
• Office of Rural Health, Advisory Committee of Women Veterans (2.1 MB, PDF)
  April 14, 2011
  Presented by Mary Beth Skupien, Ph.D., MS, RN, Director, VHA Office of Rural Health
  
  
• Presentation to the Advisory Committee on Geriatrics and Gerontology (1.4 MB, PPT)
  April 14, 2011
  Presented by Mary Beth Skupien, Ph.D., MS, RN, Director, VHA Office of Rural Health
  
  
• Presentation to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (1.3 MB, PPT)
  March 30, 2011
  Presented by Serena Chu, Ph.D., Program Analyst, VHA Office of Rural Health, in Washington DC
  
  
• Rural Health Telehealth (732 KB, PPT)
  November 2, 2010 - Presented to AMSUS Conference, VA Plenary Preliminary Program
  Presented by Mary Beth Skupien, Ph.D., MS, RN, Director, VHA Office of Rural Health, in Phoenix, AZ
  
  
• An Overview of the Office of Rural Health (764 KB, PPT)
  October 26, 2010 - Presented to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
  Presented by Mary Beth Skupien, Ph.D., MS, RN, Director, VHA Office of Rural Health, in Washington, DC

Back to top

ORH Project Final Reports

• Building Blocks for Cultural Integration in the Development and Establishment of Rural VA Telemental Health Clinics for Native Veterans (168 KB, PDF)
  August 2011

  This document presents a short overview, suggestions and tips for setting up, operating and maintaining Telemental Health (TMH) Clinics, in the form of live interactive videoconferencing, for rural Native Veterans located on American Indian lands or reservations, Alaska Native Corporations and communities, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander lands and communities.

• Collaboration with Rural Community Health Centers VISN 5, Task 4: Final Report (2.6 MB, PDF)
  June 2011
  Prepared by the National Association of Community Health Centers and Atlas Research

Back to top

Other Publications

• Serving Those Who Have Served: Educational Needs of Health Care Providers Working with Military Members, Veterans, and their Families (1.5 MB, PDF)
  December 2011
  Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D., Connie L. Best, Ph.D., Daniel W. Smith, Ph.D., Harold Kudler, M.D., Vickey Cornelison-Grant
  
  

Back to top

Download free viewer and reader software to view PDF, video and other file formats.