Serving Those Who Served Rachel Haigh-Blume NESD AHEC

Needs Assessment 2006 Legislative Action developed the VA Office of Rural Health Roughly funded at over $250 million/yr through special appropriations Help transform care for rural veterans/service members

Needs Assessment Cont. Survey of 319 providers 56% asked the question 29% agreed they knew how to refer a veteran for mental health issues Kilpatrick, D.G., Best, C.L., Smith, D.W., Kudler, H., & Cornelison-Grant, V. (2011). Serving those who have served: Educational needs of health care providers working with military members, veterans, and their families. Charleston, SC: Medical University of South Carolina Department of Psychiatry, national Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center

Rural Veterans 28% of veterans live in rural areas 6.1 million individuals 54% are enrolled in VA benefits 44% of soldiers killed in Iraq were from communities LESS than 20,000 56% test positive for PTSD or Depression ***Kudler, Harold M.D.

GOALS Train 100 rural care providers by August 2013 Improve care and access for veterans and service members Ask the question

GOALS Webinars through Increase awareness of available programs Continued learning and education

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