Iowa City VA Health Care System Women's Health
We would be remised if we didn’t discuss our Women’s Veteran Health Care programs at the Iowa City VA during Women’s History Month, as women Veterans are the fastest-growing group within our Veteran population.
The Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS) provides comprehensive care for 4,485 women Veterans. Of those Veterans, 56% are 56 years old or younger, and 56% live in a rural or highly rural area in counties of Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. The Women’s Health Center (WHC) located at the Iowa City VA Medical Center (ICVAMC) is designed to provide a quiet and comfortable space for our patients. We provide primary care services to women, including reproductive health, cervical and breast cancer screenings, metal health services, and social work assessments. Our specialty services, specifically for Women Veterans, include screening and management of chronic conditions and sexually transmitted diseases (STD), maternity care coordination, Prosthetic and Sensory Aid (PSA), therapy referrals, as well as homebound and long-term care for those who meet specific requirements.
“Men and women have different healthcare needs based on their birth sex,” said Women’s Veterans Program Manager, Bonnie Konkowski. “There are anatomical, biological, and behavioral differences between genders. When birth sex is not taken into consideration for basic healthcare, this leaves a health care gap.” The WHC at the ICVAMC ensures that women Veterans are provided high quality and equitable care, something that was not addressed until 1923.
When asked why it is so important to have a program dedicated specifically to women Veteran’s health, Konkowski says, “Simply stated, they are the Chief Medical Officers of their own home. It is important for women to take their own healthcare needs into consideration.” She references a 2022 Harvard Business School article that states women 76% more likely than men to have visited a doctor within the past year, control 80% of healthcare decisions in the home, and are more likely to be the primary caretaker of the family, making appointments, and healthcare purchase decisions on behalf of partners, their children, and parents.
“Our VA has Designated Women’s Health Primary Care Providers. They go through extra training and education to address specific women’s needs. The Office of Women’s Health has made it a requirement for every VA to have a Women Veterans Program Manager to ensure all things women in health care are being measured, monitored, and addressed. The VA Health Care System in general is leading the advancement on women’s healthcare to help close the gender health care gap.” said Konkowski.
Other areas that are being addressed in the Women Veteran Program is sexual trauma and harassment. A 2016 VA study on Military Sexual Trauma (MST) says 41% of women veterans experience sexual harassment, and 10% experience sexual assault during their military service. The study claims that women Veterans are nearly 10 times as likely to experience sexual harassment or assault than male Veterans. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center elaborates more on these numbers to say that nearly 81% of women nationwide reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. For services related to sexual trauma, Veterans do not need to have a service-connected disability rating. In fact, women Veterans may be able to get MST-related care even if they don’t qualify for other VA services.
The VA is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare to all women Veterans as part of their benefits. Women Veterans are racially, and ethnically diverse; recent data shows that 43% of women who use VHA health services belong to a racial or ethnic minority group. The VA understands that health care is shaped by language, culture, and other social factors, which is why we aim to provide culturally tailored health initiatives to improve Veteran experience and health outcomes. From training VA health care providers to consider individual cultures, values, and experiences, to acknowledging holistic beliefs in health and preferences for traditional healing methods, we are honored to provide you with the care you need.
For more information about the women health care services offered at ICVAHCS, or to enroll in health care, please visit our VA Women’s Health Services website.