title: Health care utilization behavior of veterans who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous assessments of Afghanistan/Iraq Veterans have lacked a systematic overview of all injury and illness experiences captured by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care services. In this initial study, we quantify the health care utilization behavior of eligible Veterans and describe the level and type of usage among them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A roster of service members who have served in Afghanistan/Iraq and became eligible for VHA care between 2002 and 2010 and their corresponding administrative VA medical encounter data were abstracted from the VHA Office of Public Health Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Health Surveillance System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2002 and 2010, approximately 55% of eligible Veterans accessed VHA health care. Higher utilization was observed among Veterans 50 years of age and older compared to younger Veterans. Higher utilization was also observed among Veterans with increasing cumulative deployment time. Mental disorder diagnostic codes accounted for the greatest number of visits per Veteran.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veterans with mental health diagnoses may need a different level of care than other VHA users. Other service factors associated with utilization require further research to better understand the underlying relationship. Current observed results may be reflective of future expected utilization patterns and may assist in resource planning and research.
authors.affiliation: Intellica Corporation, 209 West Poplar Street, San Antonio, TX 78212.
authors.forename: Seung-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Intellica Corporation, 209 West Poplar Street, San Antonio, TX 78212.
authors.forename: Vincent P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Lockheed Martin, 2700 Prosperity Avenue Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.affiliation: Lockheed Martin, 2700 Prosperity Avenue Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031.
authors.forename: Deborah D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Post-Deployment Health Group, Office of Public Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Post-Deployment Health Group, Office of Public Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
authors.forename: Aaron I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Post-Deployment Health Group, Office of Public Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
authors.forename: Erick K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*