1. The Health Status of Veterans Using Mobile Clinics in Rural Areas
- Author
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Thomas W. Weiss, Nelda P. Wray, Carol M. Ashton, Terri J. Menke, John C. Hollingsworth, and Carol E. Christian
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ,Hospitals, Veterans ,Health Status ,Health Services Accessibility ,Case mix index ,Outcome Assessment, Health Care ,Health care ,Humans ,Medicine ,Veterans Affairs ,Diagnosis-Related Groups ,Veterans ,business.industry ,Rural health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Middle Aged ,United States ,United States Department of Veterans Affairs ,Chronic disease ,Family medicine ,Chronic Disease ,Mobile clinic ,Female ,Rural Health Services ,Rural area ,business ,Mobile Health Units - Abstract
Between 1992 and 1994, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) experimented with mobile clinics to provide health care for rural veterans. The objective was to assess the health status of rural mobile clinics' patients and compare this with patients receiving care in VA hospital-based clinics. This study hypothesized that hospital-based clinic patients would be more ill (i.e., have a greater reduction in health status). The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form was used to evaluate patients' health status. Most patients sought care for the management of chronic disease. Patients in both groups had similar types of diseases. Mobile clinic patients were as ill as hospital-based patients (i.e., similar health status scores). This study shows that rural veterans have a case mix and a reduction in health status similar to that of VA hospital-based patients. Planners should account for this health reduction when planning the kinds of facilities and services needed in rural areas.
- Published
- 1999
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