WASHINGTON — According to VA statistics, four out of 10 veterans with mental-health challenges seek assistance from clergy — more than all other types of mental-health providers combined.

NEW YORK – Recognizing the growing number of female veterans and their unique medical needs, a physician at VA New York Harbor Healthcare Center has created a “women-only” examination and treatment room in the emergency department (ED). She also is putting together a multidisciplinary team to help female patients once their emergency needs are met.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — A year after a massive earthquake occurred off the coast of Japan, resulting in a large tsunami that caused nuclear-plant meltdowns, the U.S. military is creating a database to help track possible radiation exposure for troops who participated in relief efforts and for  servicemembers and their beneficiaries who were stationed or living in Japan at the time of the disaster.

WASHINGTON — Combining military medical services, a controversial issue that first came up more than 60 years ago, is being debated again, with a Pentagon task force examining the governance issue, and the topic being discussed at a recent legislative hearing.

MEMPHIS, TN — A pilot program in Memphis is bringing VA closer to meeting what perhaps is the greatest desire for its 42,000 veterans with spinal-cord injuries and disorders: more control of their environment.

During the Sundance Film Festival, held in January in Park City,UT, the documentary “Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare” was debuted by Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke. I have not had the opportunity to see the 98-minute documentary, yet I was enthralled with descriptions of the project on the Internet.