Pilot program boosts Veterans’ access to pelvic health rehabilitation
VA Research News Briefs

Photo ©iStock/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
(08/27/2026)
Pelvic floor disorders can result in pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction, so VA researchers created a mentorship program and a virtual Care Navigator program to increase direct pelvic health rehabilitation access for Veterans. Between 2022 and 2025, the program trained 38 mentees, who collectively served almost 23,000 Veterans. Veterans interviewed at two pilot Care Navigator sites in rural communities reported symptom improvement and high satisfaction with the rehabilitation they received. The results show this project bolstered the capacity for specialized pelvic health rehabilitation within VA and increased access for rural Veterans without the need to hire new staff. Future work will focus on expanding the program to reach even more Veterans. (Military Medicine, Aug. 18, 2026)