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A National Survey of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers' Cardiology Services
Lowell Chang1, Wade Brown1, Jason Carr1
1is a Cardiologist and Associate Chief of Cardiology, is a Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow, is an Interventional Cardiologist, is an Eletrophysiologist and Chief of Cardiology, is an Internist and Residency Training Director for Internal Medicine, is a Hospitalist and Chief of Medicine, is an Internist and Deputy Chief of Staff, all at George E. Wahlen Veterans Administration Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. is a Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow at Vanderbilt University, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. Lowell Chang is an Adjunct Instructor in the division of cardiovascular medicine, Jason Carr is a Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow, Charles Lui and Kimberly Selzman are Professors in the division of cardiovascular medicine, Caroline Milne is a Professor and Vice Chair for Education and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Training Program, John Nord is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, and Paul Eleazer is a Professor of Medicine, all at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Insights
Cardiology services are common in Veterans Affairs facilities, but the specific types offered differ significantly. Availability and complexity vary by facility, impacting veteran access to specialized cardiac care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Healthcare Administration
- Veterans Health Services
Background:
- The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides healthcare services to millions of veterans.
- Understanding the scope and variability of specialized services like cardiology within the VA is crucial for equitable care delivery.
- Facility complexity is often a proxy for resource availability and the range of services offered.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the availability of cardiology services across US Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
- To determine how the types of cardiology services vary based on facility characteristics, particularly complexity.
- To identify potential disparities in specialized cardiac care access for veterans.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted across US Department of Veterans Affairs facilities nationwide.
- Data on the availability and types of cardiology services offered were collected.
- Facilities were categorized based on their complexity to analyze service variations.
Main Results:
- Cardiology services were found to be widely available at VA facilities.
- Significant variation in the specific types of cardiology services offered was observed.
- Service availability and type correlated with facility complexity.
Conclusions:
- While cardiology services are broadly accessible within the VA system, the range of services is not uniform.
- Facility complexity is a key determinant of the specialized cardiology services available to veterans.
- Further investigation is needed to ensure comprehensive and equitable cardiac care for all veterans across the VA network.
Abstract:
A survey found that of cardiology services were widely available at facilities across the US Department of Veterans Affairs, but the types of services varied considerably based on facility complexity.
