scholarly journals 918Building the evidence base for australia’s veteran population

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Gates ◽  
Mark Petricevic ◽  
Patrick Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Service Use ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Service Type ◽  
Administrative Datasets ◽  
Specific Health

Abstract Background There is a wealth of existing research on Australia’s veteran population. However, much of the existing research seeks to answer questions on specific issues, veterans of specific conflicts, or of veterans who use the Department of Veterans’ Affairs services, with little to no information beyond these specific populations. Methods Several large administrative datasets including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS), Causes of Death and Specialist Homelessness Services were linked with Defence information to enable analysis of veterans’ information against a range of topics, such as cause of death, health service and homelessness service use. Comparisons were made between the Australian Population as a whole and the veteran population. Results Results show some similarities and some differences between the veteran population and the whole Australian population. Results are disaggregated between those who are currently serving, in the reserves and ex-serving as well as by service type and other variables. Conclusions These results have helped to improve what is known about the broader veteran community. They provide important context for policy makers to understand how best to service the veteran community that was previously unknown, and help identify areas for more detailed research and exploration. Key messages Data linkage provides an important opportunity to understand the specific health and welfare needs of veterans who are otherwise difficult to identify in large administrative datasets. Comparison of veterans’ health and welfare service use with the broader Australian population provides important information for policy makers.

Transformation of the US Veterans Health Administration

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan B. Perlin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Veterans Health Administration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
The Us

Ten years ago, it would have been hard to imagine the publication of an issue of a scholarly journal dedicated to applying lessons from the transformation of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Health System to the renewal of other countries' national health systems. Yet, with the recent publication of a dedicated edition of the Canadian journal Healthcare Papers (2005), this actually happened. Veterans Affairs health care also has been similarly lauded this past year in the lay press, being described as ‘the best care anywhere’ in the Washington Monthly, and described as ‘top-notch healthcare’ in US News and World Report's annual health care issue enumerating the ‘Top 100 Hospitals’ in the United States (Longman, 2005; Gearon, 2005).

scholarly journals The Regional Distribution of Psychiatric Residency Positions Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Its Relationship to Rural Veteran Populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Vincenti ◽  
Anthony Albanese ◽  
Edward Bope ◽  
Bradley V. Watts
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Psychiatry Residency ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Psychiatric Residency ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Rural Patient

Abstract Objective The authors evaluated the distribution of psychiatry residency positions funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs between 2014 and 2020 with respect to geographic location and hospital patient population rurality. Methods The authors collected data on psychiatry residency positions from the Veterans Affairs’ Office of Academic Affiliations Support Center and data on hospital-level patient rurality from the Veterans Health Administration Support Service Center. They examined the chronological and geospatial relationships between the number of residency positions deployed and the size of the rural patient populations served. Results Between 2014 and 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs has substantially increased the number of rural hospitals hosting psychiatry residency programs, as well as the number of residency positions at those hospitals. However, several geographic regions serve high numbers of rural veterans with few or no psychiatry resident positions. Conclusions While the VA efforts to increase psychiatry residency positions in rural areas have been partially successful, additional progress can be made increasing support for psychiatry trainees at Veterans Affairs hospitals and community-based outpatient clinics that serve large portions of the rural veteran population.

scholarly journals Virtual care expansion in the Veterans Health Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic: clinical services and patient characteristics associated with utilization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M Ferguson ◽  
Josephine Jacobs ◽  
Maria Yefimova ◽  
Liberty Greene ◽  
Leonie Heyworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Use ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Access Barriers ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Homeless Veterans ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Objectives To describe the shift from in-person to virtual care within Veterans Affairs (VA) during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify at-risk patient populations who require greater resources to overcome access barriers to virtual care. Materials and Methods Outpatient encounters (N = 42 916 349) were categorized by care type (eg, primary, mental health, etc) and delivery method (eg, in-person, video). For 5 400 878 Veterans, we used generalized linear models to identify patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with: 1) use of virtual (phone or video) care versus no virtual care and 2) use of video care versus no video care between March 11, 2020 and June 6, 2020. Results By June, 58% of VA care was provided virtually compared to only 14% prior. Patients with lower income, higher disability, and more chronic conditions were more likely to receive virtual care during the pandemic. Yet, Veterans aged 45–64 and 65+ were less likely to use video care compared to those aged 18–44 (aRR 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79, 0.82] and 0.50 [95% CI 0.48, 0.52], respectively). Rural and homeless Veterans were 12% and 11% less likely to use video care compared to urban (0.88 [95% CI 0.86, 0.90]) and nonhomeless Veterans (0.89 [95% CI 0.86, 0.92]). Discussion Veterans with high clinical or social need had higher likelihood of virtual service use early in the COVID-19 pandemic; however, older, homeless, and rural Veterans were less likely to have video visits, raising concerns for access barriers. Conclusions and Relevance While virtual care may expand access, access barriers must be addressed to avoid exacerbating disparities.

scholarly journals Legionella in the veterans healthcare system: report of an eight-year survey

2003 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 835-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. KELLY ◽  
L. H. DANKO ◽  
S. M. KRALOVIC ◽  
L. A. SIMBARTL ◽  
G. A. ROSELLE
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
The United States ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Healthcare Associated

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs tracks legionella disease in the system of 172 medical centres and additional outpatient clinics using an annual census for reporting. In fiscal year 1999, 3·62 million persons were served by the VHA. From fiscal year 1989–1999, multiple intense interventions were carried out to decrease the number of cases and case rates for legionella disease. From fiscal year 1992–1999, the number of community-acquired and healthcare-associated cases decreased in the VHA by 77 and 95·5% respectively (P=0·005 and 0·01). Case rates also decreased significantly for community and healthcare-associated cases (P=0·02 and 0·001, respectively), with the VHA healthcare-associated case rates decreasing at a greater rate than VHA community-acquired case rates (P=0·02). Over the time of the review, the VHA case rates demonstrated a greater decrease compared to the case rates for the United States as a whole (P=0·02). Continued surveillance, centrally defined strategies, and local implementation can have a positive outcome for prevention of disease in a large, decentralized healthcare system.

scholarly journals Ethical Applications of Artificial Intelligence: Evidence from Veterans’ Health Research (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Makridis ◽  
Seth Hurley ◽  
Mary Klote ◽  
Gil Alterovitz
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Subject Matter Experts ◽  
Technology Governance ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
Potential Benefits

UNSTRUCTURED There is widespread agreement that, while artificial intelligence offers significant potential benefits for individuals and society at large, there are also serious challenges to overcome with respect to its governance. Recent policymaking has focused on establishing principles for the trustworthy use of AI. Adhering to these principles is especially important to adhere to protect vulnerable groups and ensure their confidence in the technology and its uses. Using the Department of Veterans Affairs as a case study, we focus on three principles of particular interest: (i) designing, developing, acquiring, and using AI where the benefits of use significantly outweigh the risks and the risks are assessed and managed, (ii) ensuring that the application of AI occurs in well-defined domains and are accurate, effective, and fit for intended purposes, and (iii) ensure the operations and outcomes of AI applications are sufficiently interpretable and understandable by all subject matter experts, users, and others. We argue that these principles and applications apply to vulnerable groups more generally and that adherence to them can allow the VA and other organizations to continue modernizing its technology governance, leveraging the gains of AI and managing its risks.

Homelessness Among U.S. Veterans

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Female Veterans ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Collective Work ◽  
Homeless Veterans ◽  
The Many

Homelessness among Veterans has been of major public concern for over three decades. Tens of billions of federal dollars have been spent to prevent and end veteran homelessness. Substantial knowledge and progress has been gained from the many service providers, researchers, administrators, and policy makers around the country who have and continue to battle Veteran homelessness. This accumulated wealth of knowledge, lessons learned, and developed solutions need to be widely disseminated and shared to benefit the field. This book provides an overview on a range of multidisciplinary topic areas related to Veteran homelessness and highlights recent research and services that have been developed for this population. Areas that are covered include epidemiology; mental illness and substance abuse; primary care; housing models; criminal justice; money mismanagement; special subpopulations such as female veterans, Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, and aging veterans; and technology-based solutions. Together, this book underscores the collective work and progress made by those who serve the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations dedicated to homeless veterans around the country.

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