Increasing Rural Veterans’ Access to Care Through Research

research, innovation, and a passion for patient care. Nowhere is that more evident than at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). When a Veteran walks through the door of a VA medical facility it is our responsibility to deliver consistent, high-quality care—regardless of where the Veteran lives. However, in our routine efforts to identify new treatments and deliver existing ones, we sometimes overlook one of our most vulnerable populations: rural Veterans. Their advanced age, comorbidities, and combatrelated injuries complicate their care, and when compounded by provider shortages and the simple reality of distance to care, rural Veterans may find themselves at a disadvantage. To the extent that rural Veteran dependency on VA health care continues to grow relative to urban reliance, it is imperative that researchers strengthen their efforts to focus on Secretary Shulkin’s priorities of access and modernization to give Veterans “true choice.”