Gender Disparities in Veterans Health Administration Care

Abstract

By gender, nonveterans represent a higher proportion of women than of men in VHA, and some large nonveteran groups have low utilization and costs; therefore, conclusions about gender disparities change substantially when veteran status is taken into account. Researchers seeking to characterize gender disparities in VHA care should address this methodological issue, to minimize risk of underestimating health care needs of women veterans and other women eligible for primary care services.

Mental illness-related disparities in length of stay: Algorithm choice influences results

“…Decisions about how to process records can likewise influence calculated LOS. While other studies have documented that algorithm choice can influence conclusions drawn from VHA data [11][12][13], we are not aware of this result having been previously documented for LOS.…”

“…This oversight could have serious implications: algorithm choice can influence conclusions in health services studies [11][12][13], although to our knowledge this possibility has not been studied in the specific case of LOS. As VHA leadership increasingly seeks to obtain accurate estimates of healthcare costs and use evidence to guide strategic planning decisions, it is critical that the evidence base supporting those decisions be as accurate as possible.…”

Documentation of Intimate Partner Violence in Women Veterans’ Medical Records: An In-Depth Analysis

“…Although the rates may be lower and impacts less severe, men can also be victims of IPV and may have IPV-related health and social service needs (Black et al, 2011). In addition, a large proportion of women VHA patients are not veterans but receive VHA health care through veteran spouses or employment with the VA (Frayne et al, 2008). These patients may also have IPVrelated needs and were excluded from our study.…”

Mortality Among Veterans with Transgender-Related Diagnoses in the Veterans Health Administration, FY2000–2009

“…15 Over 95% of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patient population is men, and men make up the overwhelming majority of veterans (regardless of VHA utilization). 16 Consequently, from a purely epidemiologic stance, VA is more likely to see cases of GD because it contains the primary population for occurrence of this phenomenon. Second, men with GD frequently report enlisting in the military as an attempt to ''purge'' themselves of conflicts about their gender identity, since the military is viewed as a highly masculinized environment.…”