Telehealth Helps Veterans Gain Access to Care

Our U.S. service members have been engaged in more than a decade of combat activity in Iraq and Afghanistan. These missions require bravery in the face of danger, the outcomes of which often have a long-lasting impact on the lives of these men and women.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) incidence rate of 11 to 20 out of every 100 veterans that served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. However, nationwide, only about 8 percent of the 5 million veterans using VA-provided care get diagnosed with the disorder. This large care gap comes at a somber price: Each day, an estimated 18 to 22 veterans die by suicide.

Telehealth can help address the lack of care our veterans face, particularly in instances where they are living in remote areas, far from specialist or an ideal point of care.

Today, approximately 3.3 million of the veterans in the VA’s purview live in remote regions with limited access to healthcare services. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that telehealth was an effective option in treating veterans with PTSD that would otherwise resist treatment, either due to geographic reasons or the stigma surrounding mental health services. Additionally, a Telemedicine and E-Health Journal study found that telehealth visits were dramatically cheaper for the VA since many in-person visits to remote places required extensive travel.

When service members return from combat, deserve to have access to the care they need. Providing veterans with mental and behavioral telehealth care is just one way to ensure these men and woman receive the care they need when and where they need it.

Avizia was acquired by Amwell in July of 2018. Information on this page refers to activities that occurred prior to the acquisition and are presented for historical context. Together we provide a comprehensive acute care offering—a full end-to-end telemedicine solution for health systems and their providers.