KDOT and VA Eastern Kansas Health Care Collaborate!

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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) posted flyers at rest areas across Kansas to help connect Veterans to VA resources while they are traveling. The flyers share information about Veterans’ telehealth options, the closest VA location, and the Veterans Crisis Line -- empowering Veterans to access care based on their emergent, urgent, or routine health care needs.

VA collaborated with the State of Kansas because of its vast highway system.  Kansas maintains more than 10,290 miles of state highways and more than 142,000 total miles of roads, streets, and highways. VA is working closely with KDOT to provide information at 36+ designated Rest Areas, Information Centers, Visitors Centers, and other managed publicly accessible properties under KDOT’s purview.

This effort reiterates the importance VA places on collaborating with community and governmental organizations where Veterans receive care and will expand the reach to more Veterans and a wider Veteran demographic – including those at risk or more vulnerable Veteran populations such as Native Veterans and Homeless Veterans. 

Additionally, rural health care is often limited because of various challenges with funding, care requirements, and expansive geography. As greater 56% of Veterans enrolled for health care with VA Eastern Kansas live in rural areas, this campaign will help connect those Veterans with VA resources and maintain their continuity of care within the VA health care system based upon the “Anywhere-to-Anywhere” Telehealth Practice Authority using VA Video Connect.

“We know our highway system is an integral part of Veteran travel in the Midwest”, said VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System Director Rudy Klopfer.  “It’s important for us to get the message out there to our Veterans, in every way possible, that we’re here for you and we have many different ways to provide care.”

Sarah Dernovish

sarah.dernovish@va.gov