The health status of veterans using mobile clinics in rural areas

Between 1992 and 1994, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) experimented with mobile clinics to provide health care for rural veterans. The objecti ve was to assess the health status of rural mobile clinics' patients and co mpare this with patients receiving care in VA hospital-based clinics. This study hypothesized that hospital-based clinic patients would be more ill (i .e., have a greater reduction in health status). The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form was used to evaluate patients' health status. Most patien ts sought care for the management of chronic disease. Patients lit bath gro ups had similar types of diseases. Mobile clinic patients were as ill as ho spital-based patients (i.e., similar health status scores). This study show s that rural veterans have a cafe mix and a reduction in health status simi lar to that of VA hospital-based patients. Planners should account for this health reduction when planning the kinds of facilities and services needed in rural areas.