Impact of alcohol use disorder on inpatient hospitalizations: A comparison of outcomes between urban and rural Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affects rural residents and Veterans.

Objective: To evaluate the burden of AUD in admissions at rural and urban hospitals within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) comparing patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year mortality rates.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients admitted to VHA hospitals from 2016 to 2020, with a primary or secondary diagnosis related to AUD.

Understanding rural-urban differences in veterans' internet access, use and patient preferences for telemedicine.

Background: The expansion of telemedicine (e.g., telephone or video) in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) raises concerns for health care disparities between rural and urban veterans.

Home noninvasive ventilation use in patients hospitalized with COPD.

Introduction: The study objective was to estimate the prevalence of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CHRF) and home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in a high-risk population, individuals with a history of at least one COPD-related hospitalizations.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical record data of patients with at least one COPD-related hospitalization between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2017, to the Iowa City VA Medical Center. We excluded individuals with no obstructive ventilatory defect.

A systematic review of telehealth applications in hospital medicine.

Background: Despite the proliferation of telehealth, uptake for acute inpatient services has been slower. Hospitalist shortages in rural and critical access hospitals as well as the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a renewed interest in telehealth to deliver acute inpatient services. Understanding current evidence is crucial for promoting uptake and developing evidence-based practices.

Implementing a Telehospitalist Program Between Veterans Health Administration Hospitals: Outcomes, Acceptance, and Barriers to Implementation.

Background: Telehospitalist services are an innovative alternative approach to address staffing issues in rural and small hospitals.

Objective: To determine clinical outcomes and staff and patient satisfaction with a novel telehospitalist program among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of a quality improvement program with pre- and postimplementation measures.