As we know at VACareers, our Veteran population is unique in many ways. Their military training, experiences and perspectives, both good and bad, follow them through life after active duty. One distinction, which is an ongoing healthcare challenge, is that 40% of Veterans live in rural areas—compared to 20% of Americans as a whole. While VA is committed to serving Veterans in remote areas, the reality is that these Veterans are less likely to enroll in VA benefits or seek healthcare than those who live in urban areas.

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Personal contact is a key factor to the success of the program.

In a new rural outreach initiative, a team of VA researchers has made it a goal to drastically improve this statistic for rural Veterans. Focused on the power of motivation and personal contact, the study has been so effective that it will be implemented for additional groups within the Veteran population, including homeless and elderly patients.

Read on for a compelling and in-depth explanation of the research study.

When more Veterans benefit from the care, resources, and support of VA, the effect is tremendous for the entire community—from Veterans and their family members to current employees, volunteers, and job seekers interested in pursuing a career at VA.

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