Diversity And Disparities Among Veterans

Within the last ten years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun to measure and collect data on gender-neutral health screenings to determine if there were any gender specific health disparities among the veteran population. The findings of the study showed some significant disparities between sexes. In an article recently written by Whitehead, Czarnogorski, Wright, Hayes, & Haskell (2014), and published in the American Journal of Public Health, disparities among women veterans were explored as well as the statistical data surrounding the inequities analyzed. There is an urgency needed in addressing these health disparities among women veterans, as they are the fastest growing new population within the VA health

Service Delivery – VA provides a broad range of the quality and accessibility of primary care, specialized care, related medical and social benefits through a nationwide network for Veterans and their eligible beneficiaries, such as vocational rehabilitation, service members' group life insurance, traumatic injury protection, the Post-9/11 GI-Bill, the VA home loan programs, and

In the past few years there has been increasing discussion about how to provide adequate care for the increasing number of veterasn who are eligible for care through the Veterans’ healthcare administration (VHA). There are concerns is that the VHA is not providing the level of access, efficiency, and quality of care that veterans expect. Lee & Begley, (2016) suggest access to care for the veteran population may be resulting in poor health outcomes. In response to these concerns, the Veterans ' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act (VACAA) of 2014, also known as the Veterans Choice Act, was created to improve Veterans’ healthcare. The VACAA proposed to do this by expanding the number of options veterans have for receiving healthcare, by providing access for healthcare at non-VA care centers as well as providing for an increase in staffing at VA facilities (U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2016).

a whole. We will then determine surveyors’ perception of veterans’ access to care, knowledge of benefits available to them, equity of care received, and differences in care among veterans in separate socioeconomic and living areas. Also, a Likert-scale will be used to determine the extent of each individual’s belief about how Veteran’s health care is working. Lastly, there is a section for free response that encourages participants to explain their opinions and anything they may have experienced to influence said opinions.

The Veterans Health Administration is home to the United States’ largest integrated health care system consisting of 150 medical centers, nearly 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliary. Together these health care facilities and the more than 53,000 independent licensed health care practitioners who work within them provide comprehensive care to more than 8.3 million Veterans each year. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of the medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision

VBA administers a wide variety of benefit programs authorized by Congress including Vocational rehabilitation and employment, Education service and GI Bill, Loan guarantee, Service-connected disability compensation, VA pension and fiduciary services, and VA life insurance. The following organizational chart depicts the current structure of the Veterans Benefits Administration. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves the Veteran population and is responsible for providing a wide range of medical services by providing inpatient and outpatient care to 5.5 million veterans across the United States and its territories. The VHA operates one of the largest networks of health care facilities in the world. It includes 171 medical centers, 800+ outpatient clinics, 127 nursing homes and 196 Vietnam Veterans Outreach Centers. As well as, domiciliary residences, home health services, adult day care, residential care and respite care programs. In addition, the VHA helps support veterans' health care in non-VA hospitals (Choice Program) and is the country’s largest provider of graduate medical education. The following organizational chart depicts the current structure of the Veterans Health Administration. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) provides burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members; maintains national cemeteries; marks Veterans’ graves with headstones, markers, and medallions; and administers grants for establishing or expanding state and tribal government Veteran cemeteries. The following organizational chart depicts the current structure of the National Cemetery

VA St. Louis Health Care System makes changes to provide exceptional health care to vets

These rural veterans face numerous barriers in quest for access to health care, including: long travel distances to VA hospitals, limited provider choice, lack of specialty services, and inadequate provider supply. Rural veterans and non-veterans will benefit from this bill if they are allowed to receive treatment from delivery systems that allow nurse practitioners to practice with full authority

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230) have been put in place to provide funding as well as other services to veterans in any form of VA medical facilities. With this legislation, various programs have been established to provide funding and ensure care (Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, 2014).

The VHA scheme presents an issue when it comes to highly rural veterans since only half of the Highly Rural enrollees reside within an hour of primary care. Approximately 70% of rural veterans still have to travel for more than two hours in order to get to acute care facilities and more than four hours to obtain tertiary care (West et al).

The veteran reported that the year prior to his referral to VHN he resided in multiple VA run inpatient treatment centers and a homeless shelter in Newark, NJ. The veteran reported that he first resided at the “Dom” (VA), where he was asked to leave after he got “drunk and told the staff off.” He then went to a homeless shelter in Newark NJ that he described as a “shit hole.” He reported having to be out from 6am-4pm and all he did was walk the streets. He was offered drugs and crack again for the first time since 1995. The veteran accepted into 12B (VA inpatient psychiatric) and was referred to SHEILDS from 12B.

The PAVE program at the Madison VA is a program that exists due to a National Directive (VHA DIRECTIVE 2012-020) from the Under Secretary for Health (Veterans Health Administration, 2012). The directive was crafted out of the Office of Rehabilitation Services and Office of Patient Care Services and outlines that a PAVE program be established and maintained at all VA medical facilities. The programs purpose is to expand scope of care and treatment provided to Veterans at risk for loss of limb, and reduce number of amputations (William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hopsital, 2014). The program works with all clinical specialties to ensure clinical management of patients who are risk. This program affirms the Mission, Vision and Values of

The United States Army is a gigantic institute with an international presence. One of its fundamental sources of power is the diversity of its personnel, which includes 1.6 million workforce across the active, reserve, civilian, and contractor parts. While the Army was at the vanguard of ethnic incorporation in the 1950s and at present is one of the most assorted institutes in the U.S., further advancement must be made on the diversity front. The term "diversity" can be classified along countless aspects; this paper concentrates on racial diversity since the exceptional and traditionally important role that race has in matters of diversity in the Army. Internal communications concerning delegate leadership throughout the force, the Army sketches power from its cultural and racial diversity.

Veteran has four admission and discharges in CAVHS in her record: June 2012 (3K); August 2012 (3K); March 2014 (SICU); July 2014 (3K). She has also received care from Biloxi and Texas VAMC 's in the past. Veteran served in the US Army between October/2004 to March/2004, with an Entry Level Separation (ELS- Medical) discharge and her highest rank were an E-3. Veteran reported she received an injury while

The purpose of the directive is to establish a strategic planning process that will assess the health care needs of veterans. The plan will initiate to accommodate the needs and will ensure compliance of all applicable Federal and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) planning requirements. (VHA, 2008)