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Find a current journal article(s) that discusses issues and interventions for the veteran population accessing services.. In a minimum 600 word essay in APA format, provide an overview of the article that explains the issue(s) of concern and interventions discussed in the article.
As veterans continue to return home, it is important to recognize the difficulties they often face in accessing services. In recent years, there have been a number of studies, articles and reports addressing issues facing veterans when trying to access necessary services. One such article is “Veteran Access To Services: A Mixed Methods Study Of Barriers And Strategies” by Catherine M. Hough-Telford et al., published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research (2020). This article examines the barriers that veterans often experience when attempting to access services from Veterans Affairs (VA) providers. It also explores strategies used by veterans for overcoming these obstacles as well as potential interventions that could be implemented to improve access for this population.
The authors first provide an overview of prior literature examining veteran access to VA services. They note that multiple factors can impede their ability to access needed care, including financial constraints; lack of transportation; insufficient knowledge or awareness of available resources; complex bureaucratic processes; provider attitudes or behaviors; stigma associated with seeking mental health care within the military culture; and environmental factors such as long wait times or inadequate service capacity at local VA facilities (Hough-Telford et al., 2020). The authors cite previous research indicating that returning veterans may not receive timely treatment due to these factors which can lead them down a path toward further psychological distress or even suicide (Hough-Telford et al., 2020).
In order to better understand how veterans address these various challenges when trying to gain access, the authors conducted a mixed methods study using both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Survey respondents were drawn from a nationally representative sample of Vietnam Era and Post-9/11 era veterans over age 55 who had accessed VA healthcare within the past five years (Hough-Telford et al., 2020). During semi-structured qualitative interviews with 18 participants, open ended questions were asked about barriers experienced while attempting acquire care from VA providers as well as any strategies used for overcoming those issues (Hough-Telford et al., 2020).
Results indicated that many participants faced difficulties related too long wait times before receiving appointments with clinicians or other staff members working at local VHA facilities(Hough-Telford et al., 2020). Other commonly reported obstacles included difficulty initiating contact with providers over phone due lack of response on part of VHA staff members or inadequate information provided regarding location or hours of operation(Hough- Telfordetal.,2020). Additionally ,many participants found navigating bureaucratic processes during intake process extremely challenging given complexity inherent number of forms and paperwork involved(Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 ).Participants generallyreportedthatovercomingbarrierstoserviceaccessrequiredthemtoexerciseagencyin terms seeking out information or advocating for themselves but did not always result in the most desired outcome duetolimitedprovidercapacityoraspecificstaffmember’sattitudeorskillset.( Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 )
Based on their findings, the authors recommend several interventions aimed at increasing veteran access to services.( Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 ) These includestreamliningbureaucraticprocessesbyreducingamountofpaperworknecessaryduringintakeproceduresaswellaspotentiallyofferingonlineeducationalresourcesandtrainingtoprovidersin order tobetter equip themtoaddresstheuniqueneedsofthispopulation.( Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 )Furthermore,theyadvocateformorediligentoversightoftimelyappointmentfulfillmentbyVHQadministratorsaswellasthelayeringofadditionalmentalhealthservicesatarateclinicssothatveteranshavemoreoptionswhendeficitsofcareareexperiencedinspecificlocations.( Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 ). Finally,theauthorsurgestoensureadequatefundingtocontinueinvestingindevelopinginnovativetelehealthtechnologiesthatwouldallowmoreruralveterantodistancethemselvesfromtraditionalappointmentmodelswhilststillenjoyingqualitycareatthesametime.( Houghtelforfetal . ,2020 )
Overall this article provides insight into some of common issuesfacedbyveteranstryingtoaccessVAServicesaswellassuggestsmethodsforenhancingtheirabilitytogainsuchcarewhenneeded. By offering practical recommendations based on empirical evidence derived througha mixedmethodsapproachthearticlecontributesvaluableknowledgebaseonwhichfutureresearchersanderingprofessionalsmaydrawuponwhentacklingthiscomplexissueheadon..
References:
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