Cell Phones for TBI Patients

Cell Phones: Answering the Call for TBI Patients 04/02/09. Could cell phones play a key role in treating traumatic brain injury? A robust group of clinical, technology, and research experts working out of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) would argue yes. The concept, created by Col. Ron Poropatich, M.D., involves upgrading personal cell phones with unique software that would enable case managers and staff in care facilities to send targeted reminder messages to individuals regarding their specialized treatment plans. Military Health System

Two New VAOIG Reports

Healthcare Inspection Access to VA Mental Health Care for Montana Veterans 04/02/09. U.S. Senators Tester and Baucus requested a review of the access to VA provided and VA purchased mental health care in Montana by Montana veterans. This review analyzed access in terms of travel time. VAOIG

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Lexington VA Medical Center Lexington, Kentucky 04/02/09. 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 briefings to 91 employees. This review focused on eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following four activities: (1) environment of care, (2) pharmacy operations, (3) staffing, and (4) survey of healthcare experiences of patients. We made recommendations for improvements in the following four activities: QM program. Coordination of care. Emergency/urgent care operations. Medication Management. VAOIG

Replacement Scheduling Application Development Program Near Collapse

VA program to schedule patient appointments on verge of collapse 04/02/09. An eight-year-old, $167 million project to develop a core computer application to schedule patient appointments at hospitals run by the Veterans Affairs Department has all but collapsed, and senior executives are worried about the repercussions it could cause on the Hill and in the White House, according to an internal memo obtained by Nextgov.

Superbug Affects War Wounded

War Wounded Threatened By Superbug 04/01/09. Soldiers who survive severe injuries on battlefields such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan can be at risk from developing infections of their wounds with multidrug resistant bacteria. The potentially lethal microbes include superbugs such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli. Society for General Microbiology via Medical News Today

Insomnia & Suicide

Researchers Say Sleep Problems May Raise Suicide Risk 04/01/09. A new US study that found adults with chronic sleep problems may be at higher risk of suicide, even if they have no history of mental health problems. BBC News reported today, 1st April, that the study is to be presented at a World Psychiatric Association meeting. The Association is hosting an international congress titled "Treatments in Psychiatry" this week from 1-4 April in Florence, Italy. Medical News Today

House Approves Two Vet Health Care Bills

House Approves Two Bills Related to Veterans' Health Care 04/01/09. The House on Monday approved two bills that would make improvements in health care services for military veterans, CQ Today reports. Summaries appear below. via Kaisernetwork.org

• HR 1377, sponsored by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chair Bob Filner (D-Calif.), would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans for emergency care they have received at non-VA facilities. VA also would be expected to cover the cost of treating conditions not related to military service in the event a third-party insurer does not cover the full cost of care. The measure is retroactive, which would allow for reimbursement of the costs of emergency treatment received at any time before its enactment. According to CQ Today, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that VA would pay on average about $730 per claim next year and about $900 in 2014, for a total annual cost of $1 million.
  
  
• HR 1513, sponsored by Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), would provide a cost-of-living adjustment and increase the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-related disabilities. The measure also would increase the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of veterans with certain service-related disabilities. The compensation increments would be based on the cost-of-living increase provided to Social Security recipients, CQ Today reports. CBO does not expect such an increase in 2010, according to CQ Today (Johnson, CQ Today, 3/30).

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

United Spinal Association Praises Historic Signing Of The Christopher And Dana Reeve Paralysis Act 03/31/09. President Obama signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act that will improve the quality of life for people living with paralysis and mobility impairments from any cause - stroke, ALS, spinal cord injuries, and others. United Spinal Association via Medical News Today