VAOIG Review of Birmingham VA

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Birmingham VA Medical Center Birmingham, Alabama 02/28/09. 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 83 medical center employees. The review covered eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following three activities: (1) environment of care, (2) survey of healthcare experiences of patients, and (3) staffing. We made recommendations for improvement in the following five activities: QM. Pharmacy operations. Coordination of care. Medication management. Emergency/urgent care operations. VAOIG

2010 VA Budget

President's 2010 Budget Request Strongly Supports VA Programs 02/26/09. President Obama's first proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs expands eligibility for health care to an additional 500,000 deserving Veterans over the next five years, meets the need for continued growth in programs for the combat Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides the resources to deliver quality health care for the Nation’s 5.5 million Veteran patients. VA

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Program

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Receives National ‘Best Practice’ Designation 02/25/09. The Army Community Covenant (ACC) program of the Department of the Army has recognized the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Program (EBV) as a “National Best Practice” in serving soldiers and their families. The ACC is a Secretary of the Army initiative designed to identify, highlight, and direct soldiers and their families to programs sponsored for their benefit to assist in the transition from military to civilian life. Whitman School at Syracuse University via Newswise

Disability Evaluations

Defense, VA Reform Evaluation System for Seriously Injured Vets 02/24/09. Two years is much too long to determine service disabilities, especially when the injuries obviously qualify a service member for full benefits and compensation, a senior Defense Department official said Feb. 23. Until recently, that’s how long it took all military members to reach 100-percent-disabled status in terms of their disability compensation and medical benefits through the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, all went through multiple medical evaluations and screenings first with the military, only to go through the same process again with VA, Air Force Maj. Gen. Keith W. Meurlin, acting director of the Defense Department’s transition policy and care coordination office, explained. Military Health System

VAOIG Report for Bedford, NH

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Bedford, Massachusetts 02/24/09. 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 63 employees. The review covered eight operational activities. The hospital complied with selected standards in the following three activities: (1) pharmacy operations, (2) staffing, and (3) survey of healthcare experiences of patients. We identified improved colonoscopy timeliness, transitional beds for homeless veterans, and a computerized police response system as organizational strengths. We made recommendations for improvement in the following five activities: QM Program. Medication Management. Coordination of care. Environment of care. Emergency/urgent care operations. VAOIG

Headaches After TBI in Vets

For Iraq veterans, headaches continue after traumatic brain injury 02/23/09. Many soldiers who experienced mild head trauma or a blast exposure while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are returning to the United States with headaches, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 - May 2, 2009. American Academy of Neurology via Eurekalert!

MedlinePlus Winter 2009 Issue: Volume 4 Number 1

Feature: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 02/23/09.

• PTSD: A Growing Epidemic
• Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
• NIH Research to Results

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!