Library Guides: Cultural Competency in Healthcare: Veterans

Statistical Data & Key Information Resources

The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NCVAS) NCVAS supports planning, analysis, and decision-making activities through the collection, validation, analysis, and dissemination of key statistics on Veteran population and VA programs.
US Department of Veterans Affairs: Health Topics A to Z The items in the Veterans Health A-Z Index represent popular topics, frequent inquiries and areas of critical importance to Veterans and their caregivers.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Public Health Issues Within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Public Health brings a public health approach to protecting the health of Veterans and staff.Within VA, public health is the science and practice of promoting health and preventing disease among Veteran and VA staff populations. In this context, health can be affected by natural or human-made environments, present and past occupations, place in society, gender, and other social or individual characteristics.
Women Veterans Health Care Women Veterans Health Care addresses the health care needs of women Veterans and works to ensure that timely, equitable, high-quality, comprehensive health care services are provided in a sensitive and safe environment at VA health facilities nationwide.
National Academy of Sciences. Military & Veterans Health Military personnel and their families can face health concerns that vary from those of civilians. These may include additional or different nutritional needs and exposure to uncommon agents and diseases, as well as the transition from health services provided by the Department of Defense to those provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The IOM’s work considers the unique experiences of our nation’s current and former servicemen and women. IOM reports are available for free download in pdf format.

Keeping Up with the Literature: Provding Culturally Competent Care to Veterans

FREE CME: Enhancing Veteran-centered care: A Guide for Nurses in Non-VA Settings.
Johnson, B. S., Boudiab, L. D., Freundl, M., Anthony, M., Gmerek, G. B., & Carter, J. (2013). Enhancing Veteran-centered care: A Guide for Nurses in Non-VA Settings. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 113(7), 24–39.
"Advancing the Elimination of Health Disparities in Veterans Through Quality, Access, and Equity"
"The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Health Equity is proud to join with the American Journal of Public Health to bring focus on the health equity issues specific to our nation's Veterans through the release of the VA Health Equity Supplement, American Journal of Public Health September 2014."

Consumer Friendly Information About Veterans Health

Veterans and Military Health
MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites.

Know a Veteran in Need of Help?

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Mental Health Services
Authoritative mental health information and resources for Veterans and their families. The Guide to VA Mental Health Services for Veterans and Families (also available in Spanish) is intended for Veterans, Veteran family members, members of Veterans Services Organizations, or members of other groups interested in VA mental health care.
Veterans Crisis Line Website
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.
Department of Veteran Affairs Mobile App Store
VA Mobile Health aims to improve the health of Veterans by providing technologies that expand clinical care beyond the traditional office visit. Apps are developed for both Veterans and VA care teams, offering safe and secure mobile access to patient data, and providing more opportunities for Veterans to be active participants in their health care.
Give An Hour
Give an Hour's mission focuses on the psychological needs of military personnel and their families. Give an Hour™ connects US Military personnel and their families with free mental health services.