Combined Assessment Program Reviews

Combined Assessment Program Review of the West Texas VA Health Care System, Big Spring, Texas 02/22/09. 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 117 employees. The review covered eight operational activities. The system complied with selected standards in the following three activities: (1) coordination of care, (2) staffing, and (3) survey of healthcare experiences of patients. We made recommendations for improvement in the following five activities: (1) QM, (2) medication management, (3) environment of care, (4) pharmacy operations and controlled substances inspections, and (5) emergency/urgent care operations. VAOIG

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Lebanon VA Medical Center Lebanon, Pennsylvania 02/22/09. 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 106 medical center employees. This review covered eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following four activities: (1) patient satisfaction, (2) pharmacy operations, (3) QM program, and (4) staffing. We identified the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevention program and the safe patient handling program as organizational strengths. We made recommendations for improvement in the following four activities: (1) coordination of care, (2) emergency/urgent care operations, (3) environment of care, and (4) medication management. VAOIG

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, Fayetteville, North Carolina 02/22/09. The purpose of this 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 148 employees. This review focused on eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following four activities: (1) medication management, (2) patient satisfaction, (3) pharmacy operations, and (4) staffing. We made recommendations for improvement in the following four activities: (1) environment of care, (2) QM, (3) coordination of care, and (4) emergency/urgent care operations. VAOIG

VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge "BDD" Program Now Paperless

Paperless Benefits Delivery at Discharge 02/22/09. VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge - "BDD" - program has gone paperless. The program, which allows service members to apply for disability compensation benefits from VA before retiring or separating, has a goal of providing benefits within 60 days after release or discharge from active duty. For that to happen, it is important that service members apply at least 60 days before separation. Electronic images are made of medical records and other supporting information, allowing claims to be decided in a paperless environment. VA

New Benefit for Filipino Veterans

Stimulus Bill Provides $198 Million for Filipino Veterans 02/22/09. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a new benefit for Filipino Veterans who aided American troops in World War II -- a cash payment authorized through the newly enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. VA

VVA Introduce New Collaboration with Private Sector

Vietnam Veterans of America Introduces First Collaboration Between Veterans and Private Sector to Address Healthcare Needs for Vets 02/22/09. As many as 80 percent of veterans do not use the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for their healthcare, often because they don't know that their health problems may be related to their military service. To enlarge the safety net for our veterans, the Veterans Health Council -- a first in veterans and private sector collaboration -- will educate veterans, their families, and healthcare providers by informing them about long-term health risks and care for veterans. PRnewswire

Expanded Chiropratic Care Bill for Veterans Introduced in House

ACA hails legislation expanding chiropractic benefit within VA 02/22/09. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) today expressed support for newly introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives designed to codify chiropractic as a covered service through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Representative Bob Filner, D-Calif., introduced HR 1017 late last week. ChiroEco.com

Female Soldiers & PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Female Soldier 02/20/09. As of September 30, 2008 over 200,000 women were serving on active duty in the U.S. military. While women are technically barred from serving in combat they are serving in support positions in combat areas in greater numbers. This new role for women in the military brings with it new physical and mental health concerns, namely post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for those exposed to combat-related trauma. Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) via Newswise

Prosthetic-arm Engineering

Open Arms 02/20/09. Jonathan Kuniholm, a U.S. Marine engineer officer, was on a patrol in Iraq when an improvised explosive device severed his right arm below the elbow. For the past three years, he has been involved in getting better prosthetic arms into the world. He has worked with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Agency in its endeavor to make the next generation of robotic arms, but he sees a roadblock ahead for all future arm development. Kuniholm has devoted his life to ensuring that prosthetic-arm development becomes as open source as Firefox and Linux, by harnessing the enormous creative power of the world's gaming community and hobby roboticists. Kuniholm outlines the problem in the March issue of IEEE Spectrum and lays out his ideas for a solution. IEEE Spectrum Magazine via Newswise

Dermatological Diseases Amongst Combat Veterans

Study evaluates types of skin diseases among military personnel who were evacuated from combat zones 02/16/09. Dermatitis, benign moles, hives and cancerous skin lesions are among the most common diagnoses among military personnel who were evacuated from combat zones for ill-defined dermatologic diseases, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. JAMA and Archives Journals via Eurekalert!

Drinking Among Active Duty Personnel

Startling Numbers Of Active-Military Personnel Engaging In Frequent Binge Drinking 02/14/09. Binge drinking is common among active-duty military personnel and is strongly associated with many health and social problems, including problems with job performance and alcohol-impaired driving, according to a new study released by the University of Minnesota and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). University of Minnesota via Medical News Today

Widespread Contamination Possible at VA Clinics

VA clinic warns of possible contaminant exposure 02/13/09. Thousands of patients at a Veterans Administration clinic in Tennessee may have been exposed to the infectious body fluids of other patients when they had colonoscopies in recent years, and now VA medical facilities all over the U.S. are reviewing their own procedures. AP

News From the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs News:

• Press Release published on: February 12, 2009LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO SECURE TIMELY FUNDING FOR VETERANS’ HEALTH CARE
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in reintroducing legislation today to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care through the advance appropriations process. Chairman Akaka joined House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), other members of Congress, leaders from military and veteran organizations, and a former VA executive in calling for prompt consideration of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009 AKAKA INTRODUCES VETERANS’ EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS BILL
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced the Veterans’ Emergency Fairness Act of 2009. This bill would enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse veterans enrolled with VA for the remaining costs of emergency treatment received outside of VA’s health care system if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part of the cost.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA & BURR CALL FOR PROMPT TOP LEVEL DOD/VA MEETING ON SOLDIER SUICIDES
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, and Senator Richard M. Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called on the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the current acting Co-Chairmen of the DoD/VA Senior Oversight Committee (SOC), to convene a meeting to address the alarming rise in soldier suicides.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA CHAIRS HEARING ON IMPROVING THE APPEALS PROCESS FOR VETERANS’ DISABILITY CLAIMS
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing today on improving the appeals process of the veterans’ disability compensation system.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA INTRODUCES COST-OF-LIVING-INCREASE FOR DISABLED VETERANS WITH UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE SUPPORT
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced legislation yesterday to increase veterans’ compensation through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Future Demands for Veterans Care

Gauging Future Demand for Veterans’ Health Care 02/11/09. The RAND evaluation addressed three main questions:

• Does the modeling approach support long-term budget planning and policy analysis?
• Does it accurately project VA service demand and costs?
• Is the design and operation of the model transparent to users and outside parties?

Rand Corporation

Artifical Upper Extremity Advances

New surgical technique shows promise for improving function of artificial arms 02/10/09. A surgical technique known as targeted muscle reinnervation appears to enable patients with arm amputations to have improved control of functions with an artificial arm, according to a study in the Feb. 11 issue of JAMA. JAMA and Archives Journals via Eurekalert!

Suicidal Thoughts in Army Vets

Suicidal Thoughts In Army Vets 'Under The Radar,' Says Specialist 02/09/09. University at Buffalo researcher John Violanti, Ph.D., a specialist in suicide among police officers, is preparing to conduct a study on suicide risk among returning veterans. The U.S. Army yesterday reported a "stunning spike" in the number of soldiers taking their own lives. The University at Buffalo via Medical News Today

VA News

VA Implementing National Safety “Step-Up” 02/09/09. The Department of Veterans Affairs is calling for a special training campaign on safety – called a “Step-Up” – from March 8 to 14 at all medical centers and outpatient clinics to ensure VA staff follow the highest standards for patient safety. VA

VA Suicide Prevention Hotline Credited with 2,600 “Saves” 02/09/09. As the military deals with a record number of suicides among active-duty forces, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki reminded Veterans and their families that the Department of Veterans Affairs has an extensive array of services to help Veterans in distress. VA