Saturday, March 27, 2010
CNN Reports on the Veterans Affairs Department's National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
For veterans in crisis, a lifeline 03/27/2010. The crisis center, staffed around the clock seven days a week, opened in July 2007, largely borne from widespread criticism that the department was not responding adequately to veterans in crisis. Janet Kemp, the Veterans Administration Suicide Prevention Coordinator, says the phones haven't stopped ringing since the hot line's inception. "It's about being able to provide them with immediate assistance, immediate resources, appointments. It assures that we're not going to let them drop through the cracks after they hang up the phone," Kemp says. CNN
New PubMed Articles 27 March 2010
1.
Dobalian A, Claver M, Fickel JJ.
Gerontology. 2010 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20332609 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Rodriguez KL, Bayliss NK, Jaffe E, Zickmund S, Sevick MA.
Palliat Support Care. 2010 Mar 24:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20331914 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
Veteran Gets Long Overdue PTSD Treatment
Michelle Covert had PTSD for 24 years but didn’t know it. Today, thanks to her treatment at a VA hospital, she is working, happy and determined to be “a voice of hope.” Michelle was in the Army from 1980 to 1984 and was raped by her drill instructor – the night before she graduated from Advanced Individual Training. Frightened, distraught and confused, she did not report the rape. She went on to a career as a data communications specialist.
Years later, while working at a VA hospital, she was approached, remarkably, by a Veteran receiving treatment for PTSD, who said, “I’ve been watching you. You’ve got what I’ve got.” What he had seen was Michelle breaking into tears and panic attacks when visitors or situations got out of hand. VA via Facebook
Years later, while working at a VA hospital, she was approached, remarkably, by a Veteran receiving treatment for PTSD, who said, “I’ve been watching you. You’ve got what I’ve got.” What he had seen was Michelle breaking into tears and panic attacks when visitors or situations got out of hand. VA via Facebook
Thursday, March 25, 2010
VAOIG Review of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Denver, Colorado
Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Denver, Colorado 03/25/2010. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we provided fraud and integrity awareness briefings to 225 employees. This review focused on eight operational activities and one follow-up review area from the previous CAP review. The system complied with selected standards in the following five activities: (1) coordination of care, (2) environment of care, (3) medication management, (4) physician credentialing and privileging, and (5) suicide prevention safety plans. We identified the virtual intensive care unit and the polytrauma/regional amputee program as organizational strengths. We made recommendations for improvement in the following three activities and follow-up review area: QM. Reusable medical equipment. Magnetic resonance imaging safety. Contract community nursing homes. VAOIG
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Review of VA's STAR Program
Veterans' Disability Benefits: VA Has Improved Its Programs for Measuring Accuracy and Consistency, but Challenges Remain, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 03/25/2010. Over the past several years, GAO has identified several deficiencies with the Veterans Benefit Administration’s (VBA) STAR program, and although VBA has taken actions to address these issues, it continues to face challenges in improving claims accuracy. For example, GAO found that STAR reviewers lacked organizational independence, a basic internal control principle. In response to our finding, VA began utilizing organizationally independent reviewers that do not make claims decisions. GAO also found that sample sizes for pension claims were insufficient to provide assurance about decision accuracy.
In response to GAO’s recommendation, in fiscal year 2009, VA began increasing the number of pension claims decisions it reviews annually at each of its offices that process pension decisions. VA has also taken a number of other steps to address weaknesses that VA’s OIG found in the STAR program, including (1) establishing minimum annual training requirements for reviewers and (2) requiring additional supervisory review of STAR reviewers’ work. Although it has made or has started making these improvements, VBA remains challenged to improve its decision accuracy for disability compensation decisions, and it has not met its stated accuracy goal of 90 percent. VBA’s performance has remained about the same over the past several fiscal years. GAO
In response to GAO’s recommendation, in fiscal year 2009, VA began increasing the number of pension claims decisions it reviews annually at each of its offices that process pension decisions. VA has also taken a number of other steps to address weaknesses that VA’s OIG found in the STAR program, including (1) establishing minimum annual training requirements for reviewers and (2) requiring additional supervisory review of STAR reviewers’ work. Although it has made or has started making these improvements, VBA remains challenged to improve its decision accuracy for disability compensation decisions, and it has not met its stated accuracy goal of 90 percent. VBA’s performance has remained about the same over the past several fiscal years. GAO
Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Getting More VA Support
VA Proposes Change to Aid Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange 03/25/2010. Well over 100,000 Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to qualify for disability pay under a proposed regulation published by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that adds three new illnesses to the list of health problems found to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures. “This is an important step forward for Vietnam Veterans suffering from these three illnesses,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “These warriors deserve medical care and compensation for health problems they have incurred.” The regulation follows Shinseki’s October 2009 decision to add the three illnesses to the current list of diseases for which service connection for Vietnam Veterans is presumed. The illnesses are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease. VA
Five Steps Veterans Can Take to Support PTSD Treatment
Five Steps Veterans Can Take to Support PTSD Treatment 03/25/2010. Recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be an ongoing, daily and gradual process.1 It does not happen through sudden insight and it requires veterans to use their strength to reach out for treatment. But influences outside of treatment such as support from fellow veterans, continuing education or returning to work can have a positive influence on recovery. If you are a veteran coping with PTSD, consider taking the following five steps to support your return to peak performance. RealWarriors.net
New Website to Serve Pennsylvania Military and Veteran Families
Geisinger Launches Web Site Focused on the Needs of Veterans' Families 03/25/2010. Geisinger recently launched www.PAVetFamilyWeb.com. This Web site is designed to serve Pennsylvania families who are coping with military separations and multiple deployments of a service member as well as caregivers, wounded warriors, service members and military veterans. Geisinger Health Systems via Newswise
New PubMed Articles 25 March 2010
1.
Ku S, Glass GA.
Mov Disord. 2010 Mar 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20310028 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Kennedy S, Knibutat DB, Delbasso SL, Bokhari SA, Forman HP.
3.
Van Houtven CH, Oddone EZ, Weinberger M.
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Rynor B.
CMAJ. 2010 Mar 22. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 20308274 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
5.
Hoffman RM, Steel S, Yee EF, Massie L, Schrader RM, Murata GH.
Prev Med. 2010 Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20307568 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Monte SV, Schentag JJ, Adelman MH, Paladino JA.
J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Mar 1;4(2):382-390.PMID: 20307400 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Monte SV, Schentag JJ, Adelman MH, Paladino JA.
J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Mar 1;4(2):365-381.PMID: 20307399 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Jones TM.
Issue Brief Health Policy Track Serv. 2010 Jan 4:1-50. No abstract available. PMID: 20213903 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
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Wiley-Exley E, Domino ME, Maxwell J, Levkoff SE.
J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2009 Dec;12(4):205-13.PMID: 20195008 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
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Ward AL, Sanjak M, Duffy K, Bravver E, Williams N, Nichols M, Brooks BR.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Feb;91(2):268-72.PMID: 20159132 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
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Shi L, Ascher-Svanum H, Chiang YJ, Zhao Y, Fonseca V, Winstead D.
BMC Psychiatry. 2009 Dec 18;9:80.PMID: 20021664 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articlesFree article
New Research Show Promise for TBI
New period of brain 'plasticity' created with transplanted embryonic cells 03/25/2010. UCSF scientists report that they were able to prompt a new period of "plasticity," or capacity for change, in the neural circuitry of the visual cortex of juvenile mice. The approach, they say, might some day be used to create new periods of plasticity in the human brain that would allow for the repair of neural circuits following injury or disease. University of California - San Francisco via Eurekalert!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
PTSD More Common and Treatable Than Previously Thought?
Post-traumatic stress: A condition both more prevalent and more treatable than previously thought, researcher says 03/24/2010. Terry Keane, a longtime PTSD researcher and associate chief of staff for research and development at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, says researchers in recent years have learned much about post-traumatic stress, including that it is both more prevalent and more treatable than previously supposed. Harvard University via PhysOrg.com
New PubMed Articles 24 March 2010
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Cozzarelli TA.
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Byrne JM, Kashner M, Gilman SC, Aron DC, Cannon GW, Chang BK, Godleski L, Golden RM, Henley SS, Holland GJ, Kaminetzky CP, Keitz SA, Kirsh S, Muchmore EA, Wicker AB.
Acad Med. 2010 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20305532 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Murdoch M, Pietila DM, Partin MR.
J Clin Epidemiol. 2010 Mar 20. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20304608 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Depalma RG, Hayes VW, Chow BK, Shamayeva G, May PE, Zacharski LR.
J Vasc Surg. 2010 Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20304584 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Kahn KL, Adams JL, Weeks JC, Chrischilles EA, Schrag D, Ayanian JZ, Kiefe CI, Ganz PA, Bhoopalam N, Potosky AL, Harrington DP, Fletcher RH.
6.
Goldberg CK, Green B, Moore J, Wyatt M, Boulanger L, Belnap B, Harsch P, Donaldson DS.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Nov-Dec;32(9):781-91.PMID: 20004807 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
7.
Dunn AS, Green BN, Gilford S.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Nov-Dec;32(9):749-57.PMID: 20004802 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articles
8.
Vlad SC, Felson DT, Miller DR.
Arthritis Res Ther. 2009;11(3):R89. Epub 2009 Jun 17.PMID: 19534782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related articlesFree article
Loss of Taste and Smell May be Related to TBI
Traumatic brain injury causes loss of smell and taste 03/24/2010. he ability to taste and smell can be lost or impaired after a head injury, according to a new study by scientists from the Université de Montréal, the Lucie Bruneau Rehabilitation Centre, as well as the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal. Published in the journal Brain Injury, the investigation established that mild to severe traumatic brain injury could cause olfactory loss. University of Montreal via Eurekalert!
New Scanner to Help Predict Effects of Brain Injuries
Scans of brain networks may help predict injury's effects 03/24/2010. Clinicians may be able to better predict the effects of strokes and other brain injuries by adapting a scanning approach originally developed for study of brain organization, neurologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
VAOIG Inspection of VA Regional Office Togus, ME
Inspection of VA Regional Office Togus, ME 03/23/2010. The VARO management team needs to improve the accuracy of disability claims processing and provide additional oversight of personnel responsible for claims identified as temporary 100 percent disability evaluations, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and disabilities related to herbicide exposure. VARO management attributed this to inadequate staff training and management oversight. Management also needs to improve controls over correcting errors identified by the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR), safeguarding of veterans’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII), handling of claims-related mail, and processing adjustments for incompetent veterans’ fiduciary claims correctly. We recommended the VARO improve oversight of the processing of temporary 100 percent evaluations to ensure staff completes required future medical examinations, correcting STAR errors timely, safeguarding veterans’ PII, and managing mail within the VSC. We also recommended the VARO provide training to Rating Veterans Service Representatives to ensure they properly assess and make competency determinations for veterans’ that require assistance to manage VA benefit payments. The Director of the Togus VARO concurred with all recommendations. Management’s planned actions are responsive and we will follow-up as required on all actions. VAOIG
Monday, March 22, 2010
$3.3 Million for New Orleans VA
Secretary Shinseki Announces $3.3 Million for New Orleans 03/22/2010. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced the award of a $3.3 million contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs for pre-construction services for VA’s new medical center in New Orleans. VA
DoD Announces Telehealth Treatment for PTSD, TBI
Defense readies system to treat PTSD, brain injuries remotely 03/22/2010. Thousands of miles and a lack of facilities have kept the Army from providing treatment to soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. But the Defense Department plans to deploy a solution soon that relies on a transportable telehealth system that will virtually bring doctors to patients. The portion of Iraq war soldiers suffering from PTSD is estimated to be as high as 35 percent. As a result, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, the Army surgeon general, has pushed the service to consider using technology to provide much-needed treatment. nextgov.com
New Issue of the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
JRRD Releases Volume 47, Issue 1 03/22/2010.The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development has released a new volume and issue with topics to include VA chiropractic management, implanted functional electrical stimulation, wheelchair cushions, Cognitive Strategy Training, and more. JRRD
Sunday, March 21, 2010
New PubMed Articles 21 March 2010
1.
Fisher DA, Zullig LL, Grambow SC, Abbott DH, Sandler RS, Fletcher RH, El-Serag HB, Provenzale D.
Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20238248 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related articles
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Budzi D, Lurie S, Singh K, Hooker R.
3.
Goldstein G, Allen DN, Caponigro JM.
VAOIG Review of Cincinnati VA Medical Center Cincinnati, Ohio
Combined Assessment Program Review of the Cincinnati VA Medical Center Cincinnati, Ohio 03/21/2010. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we provided fraud and integrity awareness training to 166 employees. The review covered seven operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following three activities: (1) coordination of care, (2) magnetic resonance imaging safety, and (3) physician credentialing and privileging. We identified the mobile health unit outreach initiative and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety Disorders Program Women’s Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program as organizational strengths. We made recommendations for improvement in the following four activities: QM, environment of care, medication management, and contracted/agency registered nurses. VAOIG
National Disabled Veterans Winter Clinic 2010
VA Kicks Off Disabled Veterans Winter Clinic 03/21/2010. More than 400 injured Veterans have signed up to take part in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., the largest adaptive event of its kind in the world, scheduled from March 28 through April 2. VA
Federal Register on Service Connection for Persian Gulf Service: Addition of 9 Infectious Diseases
Presumptions of Service Connection for Persian Gulf Service 03/21/2010. SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations concerning presumptive service connection for certain diseases. This proposed amendment is necessary to implement a decision of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that there is a positive association between service in Southwest Asia during certain periods and the subsequent development of certain infectious diseases.The intended effect of this proposed amendment is to establish presumptive service connection for these diseases and to provide guidance regarding long-term health effects associated with these diseases.The nine diseases are: Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid
Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus. Federal Register
Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus. Federal Register
Depleted Uranium May Cause DNA Damage
Depleted and enriched uranium affect DNA in different ways 03/21/2010. Radiation is not uranium's only health concern, say researchers who report the less radioactive form of the metal can also damage DNA, but in a different way that could also lead to cancer. Meticulous research identifies for the first time how two main types of uranium – enriched and depleted – damage a cell's DNA by different methods. The manner – either by radiation or by its chemical properties as a metal – depends upon whether the uranium is processed or depleted. This study shows that both types of uranium may carry a health risk because they both affect DNA in ways that can lead to cancer. Darolles, C, D Broggio, A Feugier, S Frelon, I Dublineau, M De Medro and F Petitot. 2009. Different genotoxic profiles between depleted and enriched uranium. Toxicology Letters. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2009.11.0 Environmental Health News
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