Interventions to Improve Veterans' Access to Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature [Internet]

Review
Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs (US); 2011 Jan.

Excerpt

Recently, researchers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have begun to develop an updated conceptualization of access which takes into account the impact of new technology on access and places a greater focus on outcomes beyond increased access. Specifically, the new conceptualization acknowledges post-access outcomes such as satisfaction, symptom levels, and functioning. As such, we sought to conduct a review of the literature that would clarify the current state of knowledge regarding the link between access to healthcare and system-level (e.g., utilization, satisfaction with care) and patient-level (quality of life, symptoms, mortality) outcomes. Given VA’s continuing commitment to improving access for veterans, we also examined the efficacy of interventions designed to improve access, with a focus on access, system-level, and patient-level outcomes.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Prepared for: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research & Development Service, Washington, DC 20420. Prepared by: Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, Timothy J. Wilt, MD, MPH, Director