Why Modernizing Care Transitions Is Gaining Momentum Within the VHA

Ensuring our nation’s veterans receive the right care from the right facility without delay is critical to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mission. Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers continue to broaden access beyond their medical center walls to community and home care settings to improve access and reduce time to care.

Prompt transition to an appropriate care setting such as long/short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, palliative, and hospice care is associated with better outcomes and satisfaction, while also improving access within the VA medical center. Lengthy transitions to next level care have a trickledown effect. When veterans are not transferred or discharged efficiently, these delays cause backups in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) or even diversions requiring veterans to be transported to community hospitals.