Symptoms of PTSD include: "…intense anxiety, persistent nightmares, depression, uncontrollable anger, and difficulties coping with work, family, and social relationships" (Weinstein).
There an estimated 1.6 million men and women who have served the U.S. In those two conflicts, and according to a Pentagon Task Force report an estimated "38% of soldiers and 50% of National Guard members" that returned home from Iraq or Afghanistan "have mental health issues, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to brain injuries" (Weinstein). Those numbers, along with the assertion that only 27 of the VA's 1,400 medical facilities have inpatient post-traumatic stress disorder programs, create an enormous gap in needs vs. services, the lawyers for the plaintiffs point out (Weinstein).
The lawsuit does not ask for a monetary reward; it is designed to prevent the VA from "systematically denying what it asserts are valid claims by injured veterans" (Weinstein). Moreover, the lawsuit asserts that the VA has "consistently presented misleading statistics" that have to do with the number of veterans who need mental health services, the length of time it takes to process a claim, and the amount of money the VA needs to meet it's full obligations to veterans.
Meanwhile a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (a branch of the National Research Council, an independent organization that provides advice and research data to the U.S. Government) indicates that soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan "aren't getting enough attention" when it comes to mental health. The IOM urged the Veterans Affairs Department (VAD) to research the problem of "traumatic brain injuries" that are caused when roadside bombs go off near troops (www.CBC.ca.news). The long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries can include seizures, reduced mental capabilities and dementia, according to the IOM report. The report resulted from research conducted by a 16-member IOM panel; on that panel was Dr. George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UC San Francisco, who said:
"Job training and job loss due to multiple deployments are other serious issues facing these individuals, as is doctors' ability to diagnose and treat traumatic brain injuries" (CBC).
Also today there is a serious problem with veterans' healthcare in that an estimated 107,000 veterans are homeless -- and many of those are living on the street. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, has restructured the VA's budget for homeless veterans so that 85% of the VA's budget request for next fiscal year (July 1, 2010 -- June 30, 2011) will be spent on medical services (Miles, 2010). This means that health issues like substance abuse, depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other injury-related issues will be addressed more fully.
One fact that is troubling is presented in a research report (Himmelstein, et al., 2007) in the American Journal of Public Health; "…Only a minority of veterans -- those disabled by military service -- are automatically eligible for VA care" (Himmelstein, p. 1). Also, as of 1996, veterans who are "non-poor" (earning more than $30,000 a year) were required to make co-payments at the VA up to $50 a day (Himmelstein, p. 1). Using surveys conducted by the federal government, the authors determined that 1.8 million veterans were not insured and not receiving Veterans Administration care in 2004 (Himmelstein, p. 1).
Another troubling statistic that results from a Harvard Medical School study and is presented by the Physicians for a National Health Program shows that 2,266 American veterans under the age of 65 "died last year [2008] because they lacked health insurance and thus had reduced access to care" (www.pnhp.org).
FUTURE
Specific solutions to remedy VA healthcare shortcomings are urgently needed. Moving the federal government -- the executive branch and Congress -- to action is a painstakingly sluggish process. These solutions require lobbying by nationally known advocacy groups which will require millions of donated dollars to purchase high-visibility media messages.
ONE: The VA must: a) fund research on the healthcare needs of veterans, their families based on multiple deployments in Iraq / Afghanistan; b) begin hiring...
In addition, contracts for supplies or other services takes 6 to 9 months to establish. He says that a lot of companies won't even bid on VA contracts because of this. This results in higher costs, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, because the VA has "exerted its marketing clout" in this area." (Mayo, 2006) Oliver (2007) states that "Republicans want still tighter eligibility criteria, re-restricting the VHA entirely to
Veteran Access to Healthcare Services As he stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol's East Portico in early 1865, President Abraham Lincoln articulated what would become the motto of the Department of Veterans Affairs, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan." This lofty goal, though, has not been fulfilled in recent years and millions of combat veterans returning from tours
Improving Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Wait Time for Veterans Care Veterans are senior citizens who have served the nation in a dedicated manner and in their elder days need to feel the reciprocation of the nation on the sacrifice that they made. The population demography of the U.S.A. is such that more elderly people are to be expected, hence the strain on the economy and the health care in general will
Healthcare System Practice Guideline Introduce an overview of one healthcare system practice guideline There are numerous areas within health care that demand change in everyday healthcare practice. More often than not, irrespective of the healthcare setting, an inventive group is required to conduct research and facilitate change. There are numerous practices that require change or upgrading. This is facilitated through the establishment and advancement of clinical practice guidelines. The selected healthcare system
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Of primary concern are the 7% who are not enrolled in the VHA but qualify for coverage, the 10% living in poverty, the 7% without any health coverage, and the 0.2% who suffer from compensable PTSD and have undiagnosed hypertension. Outreach programs will be developed to enhance access to blood pressure screening and treatment, in collaboration with MEDVAMC, Texas Department of Health and Services Commission (TDHSC), and facilities providing
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