Veteran Health Care and Special Considerations

This study aimed to examine the early impact of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) on Veteran health care utilization and costs. A pre-post cohort design including a nonequivalent control group was used to understand how Veterans’ use of Veteran Affairs health care and total health care costs changed in 6-month intervals up to 3 years after PCAFC enrollment. The control group was an inverse probability of treatment weighted sample of Veterans whose caregivers applied for, but were not accepted into, PCAFC. Veterans in PCAFC had similar acute care utilization postenrollment when compared with those in the control group, but significantly greater primary, specialty, and mental health outpatient care use at least 30, and up to 36, months postenrollment. Estimated total health care costs for PCAFC Veterans were $1,500 to $3,400 higher per 6-month interval than for control group Veterans. PCAFC may have increased Veterans’ access to care.

Download Full-text

Integration of Chiropractic Services in Military and Veteran Health Care Facilities

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2156587215621461 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 115-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bart N. Green ◽

Claire D. Johnson ◽

Clinton J. Daniels ◽

Jason G. Napuli ◽

Jordan A. Gliedt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Military Service ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Veteran Health ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Severe Injuries ◽

Health Care Settings ◽

Military Service Members ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Veteran Health Care

This literature review examined studies that described practice, utilization, and policy of chiropractic services within military and veteran health care environments. A systematic search of Medline, CINAHL, and Index to Chiropractic Literature was performed from inception through April 2015. Thirty articles met inclusion criteria. Studies reporting utilization and policy show that chiropractic services are successfully implemented in various military and veteran health care settings and that integration varies by facility. Doctors of chiropractic that are integrated within military and veteran health care facilities manage common neurological, musculoskeletal, and other conditions; severe injuries obtained in combat; complex cases; and cases that include psychosocial factors. Chiropractors collaboratively manage patients with other providers and focus on reducing morbidity for veterans and rehabilitating military service members to full duty status. Patient satisfaction with chiropractic services is high. Preliminary findings show that chiropractic management of common conditions shows significant improvement.

Download Full-text

U.S. Veteran Health Care Utilization Increases after Caregivers’ Use of National Caregiver Telephone Support Line

Health & Social Work ◽

10.1093/hsw/hlx016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. e111-e119 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Joan M. Griffin ◽

Cari Malcolm ◽

Pamela Wright ◽

Emily Hagel Campbell ◽

Margaret Kabat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Utilization ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Veteran Health ◽

Support Line ◽

Telephone Support ◽

Veteran Health Care

Download Full-text

Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice in Veteran Health Care

Global Qualitative Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/2333393619843110 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 233339361984311 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lisa Burkhart ◽

Anna Bretschneider ◽

Sharon Gerc ◽

Mary E. Desmond

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Spiritual Care ◽

Nursing Practice ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Veteran Health ◽

Individual Interviews ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Organization Policy ◽

Veteran Health Care

Spiritual care is important in nursing practice, and spiritual well-being and spiritual care are associated with better health. Military veterans, a unique patient population, want spiritual care to cope with chronic conditions. It is unclear whether spiritual care is provided in veteran health care in the United States. This study used a qualitative descriptive method, guided by the Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice (SCNiP) theory, to describe spiritual care in nursing practice and facilitators/barriers in veteran health care. Individual interviews were conducted with 39 registered nurses (RNs) at a U.S. veteran health system. Findings were consistent with the SCNiP theory but revealed additional categorical attributes and processes as it applied to veteran health care. Facilitators that promoted spiritual care include nurse professionalism, collegial support, and available spiritual resources. Barriers included lack of time, task-oriented culture, unclear knowledge of accessing resources, and unclear organization policy in providing spiritual care. Findings further refined the theory.

Download Full-text