WASHINGTON—It has been two years and the Yakima Neighborhood Health Services in Yakima, Wash, is still trying to recruit an internist for a vacant slot.

WASHINGTON—TRICARE Management Activity is offering post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury education training to civilian providers in a new online pilot program.

WASHINGTON—Passage of President Obama’s economic stimulus package is welcome news for the National Institutes of Health, mainly due to the efforts of Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

WASHINGTON—President Obama last month announced the nomination of Maj. Tammy Duckworth to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

WASHINGTON—Allowing sexual assault victims the option of “restricted reporting” is credited for getting victims to step forward and access medical care who may not have otherwise, a top Department of Defense official told a House subcommittee last month.

WASHINGTON—Congress must make reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) a priority, organizations representing American Indians and Alaska Natives told a Senate committee last month.

WASHINGTON—Just as newly confirmed Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki appeared before Congress to run down his and VA’s top priorities for the coming year, so did the veterans service organizations.

WASHINGTON—Capacity issues, a changing patient demographic, successes and failures in information technology and the possibility of mandatory enrollment are all issues on Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki’s mind as he tries to get a grasp on the people, programs and infrastructure that make up VA.

WASHINGTON—To avoid the funding delays that plague the federal government yearly, the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system should have its funding secured a year in advance, according to a bill reintroduced by legislators last month.

WASHINGTON—President Obama has nominated Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services, following the withdrawal of former Senator Tom Daschle from consideration for the Cabinet post.