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VHA Office of Rural Health

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Office of Rural Health

The Office of Rural Health (ORH) focuses on enhancing the health and well-being of rural Veterans through various programs that increase their access to care and services. These programs are driven by a model that emphasizes research, innovation, and the dissemination of new support initiatives.

Established by Congress in 2006, ORH is a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) program office reporting to the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health. ORH works under the leadership of an Executive Director and Deputy Director. 

Read more about the Department of Veterans Affairs structure and where ORH is located in the organization.»

Mission

The mission of ORH is to honor America’s rural Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being..

Vision

The vision of ORH is to lead the future in delivering unparalleled health and well-being to rural Veterans. ORH has developed four goals to guide our vision and mission. Each goal has strategies and objectives and actions to achieve them. ORH staff from across the organization meet regularly to discuss long-range operational plan progress and achievements.

Goals and Objectives

GOAL 1: Support Delivery of Accessible, High-Quality, Integrated Health Care

Objectives: Enhance access to care and improve healthcare quality.

  • Promote telehealth for holistic health and wellness.
  • Support programs providing in-person care.
  • Enhance mental health services.
  • Collaborate with VA and community partners.
  • Foster care coordination and innovation in healthcare delivery.

GOAL 2: Optimize VHA Health Care Workforce

Objectives: Address workforce challenges like retention and recruitment, and equip staff to meet needs.

  • Expand workforce knowledge and data availability.
  • Promote rural recruitment and hiring.
  • Foster knowledge sharing and facilitate workforce development.
ORH Long-range Operational Plan Cover
ORH Long-Range Operational Plan

GOAL 3: Enrich Research, Quality Improvement, and Innovation

Objectives: Advance rural health research, disseminate findings, and promote best practices.

  • Support research and quality initiatives.
  • Standardize technical assistance.
  • Understand dissemination barriers and facilitate participation in research.
  • Promote ORH products and collaborate on rural health innovations.

GOAL 4: Embrace I-CARE Values to Maximize Employee Performance and Well-Being

Objectives: Provide resources for a collaborative and performance-driven workforce, and enhance recruitment and retention.

  • Support professional development and training.
  • Promote employee engagement and team building.

Operational Arms

ORH works wtih clinical and operations partners to implement innovative programs and projects throughout the VHA healthcare enterprise. 

Enterprise-Wide Initiatives (EWIs) -  ORH leverages existing knowledge and personnel resources to research, innovate, and disseminate EWIs through local and national collaborations. EWI program managers work with ORH VHA Central Office to provide oversight, mentorship, and continuous program evaluation support.

  • EWIs expand national VA program office efforts to improve rural Veterans access to VHA and community health care.
  • EWIs are hospital and clinic-based solutions that have been tested in multiple locations and proven as effective and efficient methods to standardize care delivery.

VRHRC Projects and Rural Mentored Implementations (RMIs) - ORH VRHRCs fund rigorous programs of research, quality improvement, and program evaluation.

  • VRHRC projects support the testing of innovative clinical and health services interventions that improve the lives of rural Veterans.
  • Project concepts are pilot tested, replicated, and evaluated.
  • Proven interventions are prepared to be spread system-wide through RMIs.

ORH Fact Sheet PDFDownload the Printable PDF of the ORH Fact Sheet.

Rural Health - Navigation

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