Culturally competent care has been a goal of healthcare programs across the nation, and care of military members and veterans is no exception to this goal. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 84% of veterans say that Americans do not understand them, and many find reintegration upon returning home from service to be difficult. Veterans often find that their needs are not met in community care clinics due to a lack of cultural competence and knowledge of their needs. Difficulty accessing care in both community and VA facility settings also presents challenges for veterans. However, with new guidelines and programs for veterans’ health care, veterans should begin to see improving access to culturally competent care.
Culturally Competent Care
Cultural competence is defined as an open understanding of and empathy for others, their cultures, and their behaviors. This understanding includes learning about different cultures, languages, racial or ethnic variants, religions, and social groups. To provide culturally competent care, healthcare providers must be knowledgeable about the different needs of different people from more than just a medical standpoint. They must also take action to meet their clients’ needs, regardless of, and with understanding of, their cultural background. Poor cultural competence, especially in the veteran population, can lead to decreased management of health conditions and worsened mental health.
After signing up and serving their time in the military to protect the freedoms of the United States, veterans deserve to be cared for and have their needs met. VA hospitals are particularly tailored to meet the needs of veterans. Not only are numerous veterans employed in VA hospitals across the nation, the VA also provides healthcare resources that may not be available to veterans outside of the VA system. Working with the VA, VA community providers can take steps toward providing more culturally competent healthcare for their veterans and bringing those resources closer to home.
What Programs Benefit Veterans?
Some veterans have traditionally been able to receive care under the Veterans Choice Program. This program allowed veterans who met very specific criteria to seek healthcare from community providers rather than waiting on or traveling for an appointment at a VA facility. This program was designed to help bridge the gap between accessibility of healthcare in VA facilities and healthcare needs of veterans in need of resources more urgently or closer to home. However, the Veterans Choice Program was dissolved in June 2019, in favor of a new program - the Veterans Community Care Program.
The Veterans Community Care Program falls under the VA MISSION Act of 2018. This act was designed to bring more opportunities for veterans to receive the healthcare they need in their community. VA community providers must be aware of this change, as veterans who have been seeing them for their healthcare needs may no longer be able to see them under the new regulations. In order to keep providing healthcare for veterans in the community, VA community providers must establish a new Veterans Care Agreement with their local VA medical facility or join an existing VA community care network. While veterans must still obtain approval to use community healthcare services, the eligibility criteria have greatly improved the healthcare opportunities for veterans.
The MISSION Act
The MISSION Act of 2018 was a program signed into effect by President Donald Trump to provide veterans with more access to much needed healthcare resources. Over 880,000 community care providers across the country are now participants in caring for veterans and their healthcare needs. Improved accessibility of healthcare resources is provided to veterans in this act through VA community providers, outreach programs such as telehealth services, and the continued use of VA hospitals and healthcare facilities. Having care anywhere, at almost any time allows veterans to get the help they need when they need it and advert crisis situations. Veterans can determine their eligibility to participate in the benefits of the mission act by contacting their local VA staff members. This act provides a positive step forward in providing culturally competent care for those who have served our country.
Summary
Culturally competent care is essential to understanding the needs of veterans. The development of the Veterans Community Care Program within the MISSION Act helps secure healthcare resources for veterans now and in the future. Using community healthcare providers, combined with VA facility healthcare providers, helps veterans access the care they need. For more information regarding healthcare resources and the accessibility of culturally competent healthcare for veterans please visit us at QB medical.