Unique Healthcare Needs of San Diego’s Women Veterans

Women veterans are the fastest growing veteran population in the nation. The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) has worked in recent years to expand its scope and address this growing population. Offering medical, surgical, and mental health services in their primary facility and additional clinics as well as employing dedicated Women’s Health, Maternal Health, and Military Sexual Trauma personnel to address these needs and advocate for their female patients. Even with this expanded care, many women’s health services are being addressed outside the VA either by referrals to non-VA care providers or through private insurance.  

 

However, when any military personnel access care through an outside practice, they may be at risk of seeing a provider that is not military culturally informed. When visiting providers outside of the VA Healthcare system, veteran patients are often not identified and are not screened for common issues that affect our nation’s veterans. That can result in ineffective care for all veteran patients but have dire consequences when considering the increased rates of military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, and suicide among the female veteran population. 

 

The question is, how do we know these women are getting the quality healthcare they deserve, that also addresses their unique needs as a veteran? 

 

Right here in San Diego,  

  • Over 33 thousand strong, San Diego County has the largest female veteran population in the state.  

  • Of these female veterans, 13 thousand are enrolled as patients in the VASDHS. 

  • And of those patients, 54% are assigned to Women’s Health Primary Care Provider.  

 

That still leaves over seven thousand enrolled patients and another 20 thousand female veterans not enrolled with the VASDHS with healthcare that may not address all their needs. 

 

Every female veteran deserves respect, dignity, and high-quality healthcare. Together we can support and ensure female veterans are provided with the best health services and ensure hospitals and clinics are provided with the training and resources necessary to provide tailored care to these female veterans. 

 

QB Medical is a local company dedicated to providing healthcare providers with the resources and tools to better serve female veterans because our nation’s heroes deserve the best medical care. We help both civilian and government healthcare providers deliver quality patient experiences through training, medical devices and supplies, and distribution. We can help each other support and provide the highest standard of care for our Veterans. 

 

Learn More About Women Health Services and Other Critical Veteran Info by Downloading our E-Book:

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