Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

From The VA

VA has shown that health information technology provides improved quality of health care and substantial cost savings, according to a study in the public health journal Health Affairs. The use of technology lowered costs while producing improvements in quality, safety and patient satisfaction. The study covered a 10-year period between 1997 and 2007 and found that VA’s health IT investment during the period was $4 billion, while savings were more than $7 billion. The authors noted that most of the savings are in areas that also improve quality, safety and patient satisfaction. More than 86 percent of the savings were due to eliminating duplicated tests and reducing medical errors. The rest of the savings came from lower operating expenses and reduced workload. The authors further noted that these were conservative estimates of net value, based on available literature and published studies. VA has been using health IT systems for more than 20 years to improve medical outcomes and efficiency in delivering care. The use has grown to support the full range of patient care, including computerized patient records, bar-coded medications, radiological imaging, and laboratory and medication ordering. VA has also begun piloting health record exchanges with the Department of Defense and private-sector providers. These programs are paving the way for the seamless, lifetime exchange of the health care records of Veterans, regardless of where they live. The study is available on the Internet here.

Top Veterans Stories in Today’s News

1. VA curbs some hospital surgeries after deaths Washington, DC – The Veterans Affairs Department is limiting the types of surgeries performed at some of its hospitals following a systemwide review prompted by surgical deaths at its southern Illinois hospital. Under a new system, the VA has given each hospital a “surgical complexity” level. Because of that, hospitals in at least five states will now only perform less-complicated surgeries. The hospitals are in Alexandria, La.; Beckley, W.Va.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Danville, Ill.; and Spokane, Wash.
2. VA letter addresses burn pits, other hazards Washington, DC – A new 30-page Veterans Affairs Department training letter outlines a new policy for VA regional offices to use in determining benefits for veterans who have been exposed to environmental hazards, including burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. This marks the first time in its history that VA has addressed potential battlefield exposures while the troops remained in the combat zone, as well as the first time VA sent out guidance about a potential war-related health issue without it a congressional mandate or a recommendation from a large health organization.
3. Tsongas introduces bills to expand services for veterans and women servicemembers Washington, DC – The transition from the military life to the civilian can be fraught with frustration, but legislation introduced by Representative Niki Tsongas today aims to make the journey smoother. The Improving Veterans’ Electronic Transition Services Act (iVETS Act) would ease the process by which veterans transfer their military records and benefit information to civilian life. The bill allows the Department of Defense and the Deparment of Veterans Affairs to assess the feasibility of a web-based program for veterans that builds upon the existing Defense Knowledge Online system currently limited to active duty military.
4. TBI vets face delays, poor access to care Last month, a 24-year-old veteran received his first treatment for trauamtic brain injury from the Veterans Affairs Department — more than a year after he was discharged from the Marine Corps. “The hand-off from [the Defense Department] to VA was very slow,” Jonathan Barrs told the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Wednesday. “So far, the VA care has been good, but this whole time of waiting was very hard, and I had to keep asking my primary care doctor for a consult, which took a very long time.”
5. Congress, Vietnam Veterans Dissatisfied With VA’s Allocation of Service Connected Benefits Washington, DC – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) conducted a hearing to examine the health effects that veterans sustained during the War in Vietnam as a result of being exposed to the toxic dioxin-based concoctions that we now generally refer to as Agent Orange and discuss related legislation. The Committee will also follow-up on the outstanding directive to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS).
6. Duckworth: Asians, Pacific-islanders help keep Army strong Arlington, Virginia – The Army is celebrating strength through diversity with Asian Pacific American Heritage throughout the month of May. The observance kicked off Monday in Arlington, Va., where Tammy L. Duckworth, assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs, and an Asian-American, addressed members of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency.
7. Service To America Medal Awarded to VA Official With all the awards given to federal employees this week, it’s as if a confused Santa made a springtime drop down Uncle Sam’s chimney to pick out workers who have been particularly good. Service to America Medal finalists were cited during a breakfast program on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. On Thursday evening, those chosen for the 2009 “Distinguished Executive” and “Distinguished Professional” presidential ranks were honored at a black-tie banquet at the State Department.
8. Forgotten for years, 26 vets will finally be laid to rest Dearborn, Michigan – They fought in conflicts from World War I through Vietnam, yet the remains of 26 servicemen sat unclaimed for years, seemingly forgotten by the country they served. Now, thanks to a Dearborn veterans’ group, they will finally be laid to rest this month with full military honors. On Memorial Day, a horse-drawn caisson will carry a flag-draped coffin with the soldiers’ cremated remains down Michigan Avenue, beginning a ceremony that will end with a military burial in Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.
9. Report to president links cancer, Lejeune contamination Jacksonville, North Carolina – A report linking water contamination at Camp Lejeune to cancer in former base residents went to the desk of President Barack Obama this week. The President’s Cancer Panel released a 240-page analysis Thursday urging the president to tighten regulations on environmental carcinogens and chemicals known to increase cancer risk.
10. Scholarships available for children of fallen troops Chicago, Illinois (AP) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is accepting applications for a scholarship that can pay for college for the children of fallen troops. The agency says children of service members who have died in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001 are eligible.