Health Care News
Supervisors Pass Plan Expanding Veteran Health Care
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Category: Health Care - California
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors passed an agreement with TriWest Healthcare Alliance to expand military veterans' access to health care. This decision was made knowing that the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Choice Program opened the door for preapproved non-VA care for veterans who face long wait times (more than 30 days) or live more than 40 miles from the nearest VA medical facilities.
Women Warriors Have Special Health Needs, Researchers Report
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
In 1993, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) initiated surveys and questionnaires to 3,700 women veterans and over 158,000 non-veteran women and continued to collect data over the following 20 years. The WHI study, "Older Women Veterans in the Women’s Health Initiative," results indicate that "women veterans are more at risk for lower life satisfaction, lung cancer, cognitive decline and hip fractures than non-veteran women." Additionally, they indicated "lower levels of self-perceived health, life satisfaction, social support, physical function and quality of life than their non-veteran counterparts and are more likely to reside in a residential living facility and were far less likely to have ever married.”
Osteoporosis and Soft-tissue Damage Affecting Female Veterans
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
Different health issues face the next generation of veterans. Many of the women who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn were there during their prime bone-building years. One physician attributes the prevalence of osteoporosis and soft-tissue damage to poor water supply and nutrition as well as carrying gear nearly equal to one's body weight. Treatment is most effective when treated early with diet, exercise, and vitamins.
Survey to Evaluate VA’s Women Veterans Program Managers
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
Quoted from 'The American Legion" website home page:
"A Marine Corps veteran and American Legion member wants to know how the addition of Women Veterans Program Managers at VA medical centers nationwide is affecting health care for women veterans.
Women veterans who use VA health-care facilities can take the quick survey here.
Kimberly Francois, a University of Phoenix doctoral candidate in industrial organizational psychology and a 26-year veteran of the Marine Corps, is surveying women veterans to gauge VA’s progress. Francois has a bachelor’s degree in biology, Master of Business Administration degree in human resources management, and a Master of Science degree in industrial organizational psychology to go along with her Marine Corps career. She retired as a chief warrant officer – 5, personnel officer.
“The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether or not the Women Veterans Program Manager improves accessibility of health-care services for women veterans,” Francois says. “Numerous government reports revealed the need for organizational and managerial changes in the health-care system within the VA for women veterans. However, academic literature evaluating the Women Veterans Program Manager is non-existent.”
Francois received authorization from Dr. Patricia Hayes, chief consultant for women’s health services at VA, to fulfill that missing research need and will extend findings to Women Veterans Program Managers at VA medical centers throughout the country. She will also share findings with The American Legion."
New Women’s Health Center at West Haven VA ‘Officially’ Open
Friday, January 22, 2016 | Category: Health Care - Connecticut
The new VA Connecticut Women's Health Center officially opened, now serving nearly a thousand women veterans. It's a one-stop shop, meeting female veterans' comprehensive health care needs in a more private, dignified setting for the women served there.
Journal Shares Discoveries on Women Veterans' Long-Term Health Outcomes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
The "Women Veterans in the Women's Health Initiative" supplemental to "The Gerontologist," published in February 2016, includes 13 articles by Department of Veterans Affairs researchers and colleagues comparing aging and mortality differences between veteran and non-veteran women. Research findings were extracted from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a long-term study funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and begun in 1991. Researchers stated that "prior military service identifies a group of women who face special challenges as they grow older."
Project Helps Women Veterans in Rural Areas with Postpartum Depression
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
At least 300,000 new U.S. mothers suffer from postpartum depression experiencing low moods, loss of interest in activities, insomnia, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. "MomMoodBooster" is an online intervention tool a University of Iowa researcher with the Veterans Administration is developing to help rural female veterans cope with their postpartum depression. Women in rural areas may not seek or have access to mental health care.
Focus on Female Veterans in “I’m One” Campaign
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Category: Health Care - National
The VA’s Women’s Heath Services “I’m One” campaign intends to raise awareness of VA benefits available for female veterans. A recent study indicated that only 37 percent of female veterans felt recognized, respected and valued in civilian life. Today, women account for 8 percent of all U.S. military veterans. Over 280,000 women served in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001. Women account for 20 percent of new recruits, 14.5 percent of the active duty force, and 18 percent of the reserve force.
I Served in the Active Military. Yes, I'm One!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 | Category: Health Care - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Women’s Health Services (WHS) “I’m One” campaign intends to raise awareness of VA benefits, health care, and other services and programs available to women veterans. The VA encourages women veterans to apply for VA health care and other benefits and use those they are eligible for to improve their day-to-day quality of life and promote enduring self-sufficiency. When family members, caregivers, friends, and involved citizens connect women with military service to beneficial resources within their communities, that's success!
Togus Gives Progress on Caring for Maine Veterans
Monday, August 3, 2015 | Category: Health Care - Maine
Maine Department of Veterans Affairs (Maine VA) administrators stated that the needs of Maine veterans continue to be met nearly a year after the national scandal rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide. Maine VA currently has 50,000 veterans enrolled of which 85% will receive care in 2014. More staff and updated technology are critical to meet patient demand. Medical Center Director Ryan Lilly stated: "Our access is very good here in the state of Maine. It is not perfect."