Office of Rural Health

****VHA Office of Rural Health**** Congress established the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) in 2006 ([38 USC § 7308](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2012-title38-section7308&num=0&edition=2012 "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2012-title38-section7308&num=0&edition=2012")) to conduct, coordinate, promote, and disseminate research on issues that affect the nearly five million U.S. military (uniformed) service Veterans who reside in rural communities. The mandate also requires ORH to develop, refine and promulgate policies, best practices, lessons learned, and innovative and successful programs. ORH fulfils its mission by supporting targeted research, developing innovative programs, and identifying new care models. Working through its five [Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers](https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/aboutus/vrhrc.asp) as well as partners from academia, state and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations, ORH strives to break down the barriers separating rural Veterans from quality care. [Office of Rural Health Research Agenda (PDF)](https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/ORH-Rural-Research-Agenda-508c.pdf# "https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/ORH-Rural-Research-Agenda-508c.pdf") **ORH support two types of programs** that support rural Veterans' health and well-being: - **[Enterprise-Wide Initiatives](https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/RURALHEALTH/enterprise-wide-initiatives/EWIs.asp "/RURALHEALTH/enterprise-wide-initiatives/EWIs.asp")** - Expand national VA program offices’ access to health care efforts to sites that serve rural Veterans - [**Rural Mentored Implementations**](https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/providers/promising_practices.asp "Rural Mentored Implementations") - Field-tested, innovative projects that meet ORH criteria demonstrating improved access to care for rural Veterans