title: Improved Veteran Access to Care through the Veteran Health Information Exchange (VHIE) Retail Immunization Coordination Project.
abstract: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Health Information Exchange (VHIE, formerly Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, or VLER) Retail Immunization Coordination Project established a partnership between VA and Walgreens to empower Veterans to elect to receive their immunizations at a local Walgreens, which might be located closer to their home than their nearest VA facility. Analysis of Veterans immunized at Walgreens between September 2014 and January 2015 showed that 64% of study Veterans now traveled <5 miles to receive their immunization, 12% of study Veterans traveled between 5 to 10 miles, and 24% of study Veterans traveled more than 10 miles. In addition, we note that 93% of Veterans traveled less than 54 miles, the average distance rural Veterans traveled to the nearest VA facility. We conclude that the VHIE Retail Immunization Coordination Project improved Veteran access to healthcare and discuss future directions of this effort.
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, MD; US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Botts
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, MD; US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, MD; US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olinger
authors.affiliation: US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.affiliation: US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hsing
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D066275:Health Information Exchange; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D010594:Pharmacies; D012424:Rural Population; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans