Adagio Health Launches Initiative to Address Health Disparities Among Women Veterans in Rural Pennsylvania

Three-tiered approach aims to close the gap in health equity for women veterans, focusing on accessibility, tailored services, and community engagement

Pittsburgh, PA (November 8, 2024) Adagio Health is proud to announce the launch of its new "Closing the Gap: Health Equity for Women Veterans in Rural PA" project, a comprehensive initiative designed to address the unique health disparities faced by women veterans in rural Pennsylvania.

With staunch support from PA Senator Jay Costa, the project will employ a three-tiered approach to tailor assistance to women veterans, ensuring they receive the care and services they need without typical barriers often encountered in veteran healthcare.

"Women veterans are an underserved population that often face significant obstacles in accessing quality healthcare," said Liz Heft, Chief Administrative Officer at Adagio Health. "Our goal is to break down these barriers by providing accessible, women-focused care that acknowledges and addresses their unique experiences and needs."

The first tier of the initiative focuses on expanding and improving data collection regarding veteran status across all Adagio Health programs. By systematically standardizing data collection, the organization aims to identify unmet needs and gauge the progress of improvement efforts. Currently, veteran status is collected for 97% of patients in medical offices; this will be expanded to all services provided directly by Adagio Health, including WIC, Healthy Women for Life programs, cancer screening, and tobacco cessation.

The second tier ensures that all Adagio Health services are easily accessible to women veterans by covering all out-of-pocket or related costs including transportation, co-pays, and necessary supplies for program participation within a five-county region. By eliminating financial barriers, the organization hopes to increase program utilization and better understand areas of greatest need through tracking and analysis.

The final tier involves building and maintaining trusting relationships with women veterans through community engagement and education. Adagio Health will partner with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to provide meaningful educational programming on topics such as sexual and reproductive health, Mental Health First Aid for Veterans and Families, nutrition, and tobacco cessation. The organization will also participate in annual Stand Downs, resource fairs, and other outreach events.

"By focusing on women veterans, we're acknowledging that their needs are distinct and require specialized attention," added Heft. "We're committed to providing culturally and clinically competent care without the typical red tape no need for a DD214, specific discharge status, length of service, or disability rating. Our services are designed to be accessible and welcoming to all women veterans."

Adagio Health is also renewing its PsychArmor certification and is on track to earn a new "Veteran Ready Healthcare Organization" badge as 80% of the organization's entire staff complete training on veteran clinical and cultural competency. Trainings are tailored to staff roles to ensure the most relevant information is provided, demonstrating the organization's commitment to excellence in serving women veterans.

For more information about Adagio Health's services for women veterans, please visit https://adagiohealth.org/womenveterans or contact info@adagiohealth.org

About Adagio Health For over 50 years, Adagio Health (AH) has provided health, wellness, & nutrition services in Pennsylvania (PA). Today, the organization serves approximately 115,000 patients & clients annually. While women's health is a primary focus for the organization, reproductive health, breast & cervical cancer screening, & preventive health services are also offered to men, teens, members of the LGBTQ+ community, & anyone in need of care in a welcoming, confidential setting. AH operates 8 medical offices in western PA that also address social determinants of health such as food insecurity, behavioral health, & care navigation; manages the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program in 5 counties; promotes tobacco/vaping prevention & cessation; oversees breast & cervical cancer screening & treatment programs across PA; & empowers local communities to address nutritional, reproductive, & behavioral health; positive relationship building; & life skills through an array of clinical & education programs.