The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is enhancing women’s health care in rural areas through the Rural Women’s Health Mini-Residency program. With over 1 million women Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the need for primary care teams trained in women-specific health care is increasing, particularly in rural regions where many women Veterans receive care. The Mini-Residency combines online learning and hands-on training at rural clinics to minimize disruptions in patient access.

Primary care teams complete 10 hours of online courses on topics such as contraception and cervical cancer screening, followed by a full day of immersive training with a Gynecologic Teaching Associate. Since its launch in 2018, the program has trained over 2,170 providers across 409 clinical sites, with the percentage of trained providers designated as Women’s Health Primary Care Providers nearly doubling.

This initiative not only improves the expertise of rural health care teams but also enhances access to essential services for women Veterans. With approximately 40 Mini-Residency trainings held annually, the VA aims to address the shortage of women’s health providers in rural areas, ensuring comprehensive care closer to home.