Efforts Underway to Bridge Healthcare Access Gaps for Michigan Veterans

Addressing Healthcare Barriers for Michigan Veterans



As the 4th of July approaches, many will commemorate America's independence. However, numerous veterans who defended those freedoms continue to grapple with a different fight — accessing quality healthcare. Despite the availability of services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly half of all veterans in the U.S. encounter significant obstacles in receiving suitable care. Experts from the Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) believe this issue is both frustrating and solvable.

Recently, MiHIN received the Michigan Veteran Service Organizations Networking Grant from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). This funding aims to implement a 'no wrong door' initiative, ensuring Michigan veterans can seamlessly access the services and benefits they've earned.

Utilizing the grant, MiHIN organized a series of webinars designed for healthcare providers to stress the importance of identifying veteran status during the intake process. The intention is to raise awareness concerning the unique needs and care gaps that veterans experience, which can directly influence their timely access to necessary healthcare resources.

Dr. Kevin Bohnsack, Executive Medical Director of Population Health Management at Trinity Health Michigan and a retired State Air Surgeon from the Michigan Air National Guard, remarked, "Michigan holds the 12th largest veterans' population in the nation—over five percent of the state's residents have served in the military, including myself. Funding initiatives like this help us close the access gap by simplifying workflows in hospital settings and speeding up care coordination for veterans needing complex services."

The webinars featured speakers from both MiHIN and MVAA and aimed to educate participants on how to better recognize veterans during patient registration. Important discussions focused on advancing the 'no wrong door' approach across various healthcare sectors. These events acted as a platform for veteran service providers, advocates, and program contributors to exchange vital information, forge connections with local resources, and address existing service gaps.

Key topics covered during the webinars included:
1. Importance of Identifying Veteran Status: Understanding how recognizing a patient's veteran status can enhance care and lead to more tailored support.
2. Health Impact of Veteran Status: Exploring how a veteran's unique experiences and status can influence their health outcomes when seeking care.
3. Current Identification Processes: Reviewing existing methods that healthcare providers utilize in Michigan to identify veterans during intake procedures.
4. Challenges and Opportunities: Addressing the hurdles veterans face in accessing support, while identifying opportunities for improvement in healthcare systems.
5. Role of Health Information Technology: Discussing how tech innovations can significantly impact the overall health of veteran communities.

For those interested in accessing the recorded webinars and learning more about how MiHIN alongside MVAA can better serve veteran populations, visit MiHIN's Download page.

About MiHIN


The Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) is a nonprofit collaboration aiming to enhance the healthcare experience in Michigan. Their mission focuses on improving quality while reducing costs through the dissemination of essential health information across the state.

About MVAA


The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) serves as a centralized agency that provides veterans and their families with advocacy, care, and essential services. Established by Executive Order 2013-2, MVAA has been operational since March 20, 2013, aligned with the anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

By tackling healthcare barriers, MiHIN and MVAA are working tirelessly to ensure that Michigan’s veterans receive the timely care they deserve.

Topics Health)

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