WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will open three Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers on Oct. 1 to better understand rural health issues for veterans and develop special practices and products to implement across the country.

“For our veterans living in rural areas, the nearest medical center can be miles away,” said VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake. “VA’s commitment is to provide the best quality care to veterans regardless of their address.  These centers are a major step toward ensuring that commitment is met.”

The centers will serve as satellite offices for VA’s Office of Rural Health.  The eastern center will be located in Vermont at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, the central region in Iowa at the Iowa City VA Medical Center and the western region at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center.

Each resource center will be staffed with administrative, clinical and research staff who will identify disparities in health care for rural veterans and formulate practices or programs to enhance the delivery of care.

“VA has always been committed to providing quality care to rural veterans,” said Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA’s under secretary for health. “These centers will allow us to better identify and meet the unique needs of our rural veterans as their population continues to grow.”