Wichita, Kansas tops the list of best cities for veterans’ healthcare, according to an analysis conducted by medical evidence services provider Trajector Medical. The company found that seven of the 20 best cities for veterans’ healthcare are in the South. Another seven are in the Midwest. Notably, just five of the 100 most populated cities in the country rank among the 20 best cities for veterans’ healthcare.  

Health is the top concern for veterans immediately after military service, according to The United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Within nine months of leaving the military, 53% of veterans had chronic physical health conditions and 33% had chronic mental health conditions. 

“We are committed to leveling the playing field for the underserved and at-risk disabled population, including veterans,” said Paige Polakow, president of Trajector Medical. “This study is a natural extension of our decade-long mission to help veterans improve their life trajectory.” 

Trajector Medical’s Five Best Cities for Veterans’ Healthcare 

1. Wichita, Kansas: Wichita has the shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (3.8 days) and the second highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (95%). 
2. Fargo, North Dakota: Fargo has the shortest wait time for new patients to access orthopedics (14.8 days) and the third shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.6 days). 
3. Amarillo, Texas: Amarillo has the shortest wait times for both new and existing patients to access neurology (17.2 days for new patients and 1.8 days for existing patients).  
4. Altoona, Pennsylvania: Altoona has the highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (97%) and the second highest hospital satisfaction rating (91% of veterans rated the hospital 9 or 10 out of 10).  
5. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: Wilkes-Barre has the second shortest wait time for existing patients to access both primary care (1.5 days) and cardiology (3.9 days).  

Other Key Findings:  

• Two Pennsylvania cities rank among the five best cities for veterans’ healthcare: Altoona (James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center) and Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center).  

• Two of the 20 best cities for veterans’ healthcare are in Ohio: Dayton (Dayton VA Medical Center) and Cincinnati (Cincinnati VA Medical Center).  

• Charleston, South Carolina has the best access to primary care; Wichita, Kansas has the best access to specialty care; Wilmington, Delaware has the best access to mental healthcare; and Asheville, North Carolina has the highest quality hospital care.  

Find the full report, Trajector Medical’s Best Cities for Veterans’ Healthcare, including the methodology and infographics, here.  

Methodology                                                                                                                                                 
To determine which cities are the best for veterans’ healthcare, Trajector Medical examined data for 132 Veterans Health Administration hospitals (82 of which had available data) across 23 metrics spanning four key categories: access to primary care, access to specialty care, access to mental healthcare, and quality of hospital care.