Late Breaking News
- More Vietnam Veterans Qualify For Agent Orange Presumption
- First Secretary of VA, Ed Derwinski, Dies
- Army Report Examines Behavioral Health
- DoD Tackles Sexual Assault With New Measures
- Schools Commit To Boosting PTSD, TBI Training And Research
- Report Examines Sexual Assaults At Military Academies
- Government Panel Asks Science Journals to Censor Bird Flu Articles
- Genitourinary Injuries Added To VA Traumatic Injury Benefits
- VA-Prescribed Antipsychotic Has No Effect on PTSD
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Current Issue
Is the VA Mental Health Scheduling System Gamed?
WASHINGTON — Frustrated by the numerous reports of veterans unable to receive timely mental healthcare at VA facilities, legislators have called for the VA Office of the Inspector General to conduct a formal audit of wait times. In a letter to the VA IG, ranking VA Committee members raised issues that have emerged in recent hearings.Most notably, they are concerned about the contradiction between what VA staffers in the field are saying about their difficulties in getting expeditious care to veterans compared with the more optimistic tone VA officials have taken with Congress. Full Article 
Please read this article and participate in this month's online opinion poll about whether VA is doing enough to reduce wait times for veterans who need mental healthcare?
From the Editor-in-Chief
"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." – Mark Twain (1835-1910)
As an anesthesiologist, on a purely pragmatic level, it is hard not to bear some animosity toward those who smoke.The simplest anesthetic case in a seemingly healthy individual can quickly degenerate into a multitude of care issues solely because the patient smokes.
These unnecessary, smoking-induced challenges in patient care motivate me to never miss an opportunity to tell a smoker, “Quitting smoking is the single most important thing you could do to improve your health.” Full Article
New Army Surgeon General Is First Woman, Nurse to Hold That Position
WASHINGTON — With the swearing in of Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, RN, as the Army’s 43rd surgeon general, for the first time a woman or a nurse has been officially in command of the Army’s largest medical organization. Horoho is both.
Kidney Injuries Sharply Increase Wounded Death Rates
SAN ANTONIO, TX--Kidney injuries have dramatically increased death rates in military personnel evacuated to burn units in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Suicide Rate Drops but Veterans Still Struggle to Get Mental Health Care
WASHINGTON — Reports about suicide prevention constantly focus on the difficulty veterans have in receiving mental healthcare, even though the suicide rate is dropping.
IG Audit Finds Inadequate Documentation for VA Bonuses
WASHINGTON — VA’s program of giving out bonuses as retention incentives has been conducted without appropriate guidance or oversight, and many were handed out without regard for employee reviews, according to an audit conducted by the VA Inspector General’s Office.
Proposed Law Allows Tribal Courts to Prosecute Non Indians Seeks End to Assault Epidemic
WASHINGTON — Congress is considering legislation to strengthen the ability of tribal law-enforcement agencies to address the epidemic of sexual assaults and domestic violence against women in their communities.
IOM Says Get Rid of 510k approval FDA Responds Not So Fast
WASHINGTON — Six months after the Institute of Medicine (IoM) issued a report recommending the dissolution of FDA’s 510(k) medical device approval process, the agency has yet to release their official response — a delay that has legislators concerned.
Survey
Is VA doing enough to reduce wait times for veterans who need mental healthcare?
