Cognitive Rehab for TBI

Cognitive rehab helps people with acquired brain injury 01/15/09. Cognitive rehabilitation after a serious brain injury or stroke can help the mind in much the same way that physical therapy helps the body, according to a new meta-analysis. Because the data suggest that treatment may work best when tailored to age, injury, symptoms and time since injury, the findings may help establish evidence-based treatment guidelines. A full report is in the January issue of Neuropsychology, which is published by the American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association via Eurekalert!

Quality of Care Issue at North Florida/South Georgia VA

Healthcare Inspection Quality of Care Issues North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Lake City, Florida 01/15/09.The VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections conducted an evaluation in response to allegations that clinical practitioners disregarded a patient’s cardiac complaints, did not refer him to Cardiology Service, and as a result, did not provide timely treatment relevant to his cardiac complaints at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System located in Lake City, FL. VAOIG

Review of Pittsburgh VA

Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 01/15/09. During the week of September 8–12, 2008, the OIG conducted a Combined Assessment Program (CAP) review of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (the system), Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we also provided fraud and integrity awareness training to 259 system employees. The system is part of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 4. VAOIG

New Veterans' Health Care Bill Introduced

Akaka reintroduces sweeping new Veterans' Health Care Bill 01/15/09. Today U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to improve veterans’ health care. U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence a Significant Concern in the VA Population 01/15/09. As many as 17 percent of adults in the United States suffer from overactive bladder (OAB), according to the most recent data. A form of urinary incontinence, OAB results from the sudden, involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles, causing a sudden urge to urinate. It is one of the most common medical complaints in adults, with prevalence rising significantly in older adults. U.S. Medicine

Hyperbaric Oxygen for TBI

Researchers Studying Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Mild to Moderate TBI 01/15/09. Physicians at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) Hyperbaric Center and the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine are hoping their research into the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on servicemembers with mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) will lead to new treatment options. U.S. Medicine

Parkinson's Study

VA-NIH Study Offers Hope for Parkinson’s Patients 01/15/09. Electrical stimulation of the brain -- a treatment in which a pacemaker-like device sends pulses to electrodes implanted in the brain -- is riskier than drug therapy but may hold significant benefits for those with Parkinson’s disease who no longer respond well to medication alone. VA

VA Insurance Dividends

One Million Vets Share $320 Million in VA Insurance Dividends -1/15/09. One million veterans are in line to share $319.8 million in annual insurance dividends during 2009, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA operates one of the nation’s largest life insurance programs, providing more than $1 trillion in coverage to seven million service members, veterans and family members.VA

VA - DoD Joint Medical Records

Shinseki sets goal for joint VA-DoD electronic medical records 01/15/09. Veterans Affairs and Defense departments have talked for years about creating a joint electronic medical records system, and VA Secretary-designate Eric Shinseki told senators today he would work to make it happen. FederalTimes.com

VA Suicide Settlement

VA Settles Suicide Lawsuit 01/15/01. The parents of an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide after being turned away from a VA facility in Massachusetts have agreed to a $350,000 settlement offered by the government. Jeffrey Lucey was a 23-year-old former Marine corporal when he hanged himself in his parents' home. Military.com

Safe-Driving Initiative

Veterans to Benefit From Safe-Driving Initiative 01/12/09. A coalition of federal departments, led by Veterans Affairs, has launched a research and awareness program to curb motor vehicle fatalities among veterans who return from deployments. DefenseLink.mil

New Clinic for South Texas Veterans

VA To Lease Space for New Clinic at Harlingen, Texas 01/12/09. To provide 21st century health care to South Texas veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that the firm of Boyer Harlingen L.C. will construct a new 120,000-square-foot health care center in Harlingen, which VA will lease for a minimum of 20 years. VA