VA Grants For Women's Health Programs Expand Telehealth Efforts

Ashley Gold | FierceHealthIT | January 29, 2013

Women's care with a special emphasis on telehealth is at the forefront of 33 grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to VA facilities. The money will go toward improving emergency healthcare services for female veterans, expanding women's health education programs and offering telehealth programs in rural areas, according to an announcement.

"Our goal is 100 percent accessibility for women Veterans who need our care," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said. "These new projects will improve access and quality of critical healthcare services for women."

The Veterans Health Administration's national Women's Health Program Office, the Office of Rural Health and the Office of Healthcare Transformation are supporting the winning proposals. Telemental health, telegynecology, telepharmacy and telephone maternity care coordination all received grants--adding to support announced for VA telehealth efforts in September.