Beth Sholom’s Post

Veterans do not come home from war; they come home with war. Join this one-hour webinar to explore the unique health needs of Veterans. The session will cover the physical, psychological, and psychosocial health consequences of military service, combat, and toxic exposure. It will reveal common injuries from complex, war-specific conditions. The discussion will also focus on a team-based approach to care management that includes clinical pearls you can adapt to your care setting. Participants will be able to: Describe the health impacts of military service and deployment. Explain the importance of asking about experiences, jobs, and environments encountered during military service. Apply clinical pearls in taking a brief military/deployment history as the first step in care for Veterans. List services and resources available to Veterans for optimal post-deployment care.

On Dec. 6, 2023, the deputy secretary of defense signed a memo directing the stabilization of the Military Health System. The memo requires that the MHS add capacity to reattract patients and beneficiaries, improve access to care in military hospitals and clinics, and increase opportunities to sustain military clinical readiness for medical forces.  #VeteransCare #VeteransSupport #MilitaryHealth #MHSReform #MilitaryHealthReadiness #DefenseHealthReform

The Military Health System (MHS) is zeroing in on improving #healthcare access worldwide. One step in making this possible is equipping the MHS workforce with technology-enabled support to provide the best quality care to service members and dependents when and where it’s needed most. The #network will be fundamental to this transformation and similar to the work AT&T does for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today, an agency that requires high speed, high capacity and resilient networks in both urban and rural areas to support its missions. A key component to effective #modernization will be to use commercial solutions and leverage the massive investment and innovation the private sector brings to ensure the United States Department of Defense has the best our "Whole of Nation" offers to meet their missions.

🤒 How did we address the needs of military members, Veterans and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic? At Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)’s Public Health 2024 conference, the JMVFH team is currently attending a session on mid- and post-pandemic COVID-19 support. In November 2020, JMVFH published a special edition that detailed how military members, Veterans and their families were supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. 🦠 In the special edition’s editorial, JMVFH Co-Editors in Chief Dr. Stéphanie A.H. Bélanger, CD, PhD and Dr. David Pedlar provided insight into the issue’s timely development: “The idea of developing a special issue focused on COVID-19 for the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health (JMVFH) began as the media was flooded with images of the height of the pandemic’s devastation in Italy. The virus brought about anxiety-inducing discourse, not only in the medical and academic worlds, but also in the broader citizenry. People were grappling to understand COVID-19’s modes of transmission, coming to grips with exactly how powerful the virus is, and helplessly watching as patients suffocated by the thousands in overcrowded intensive care units around the globe. “To combat that helplessness, many of our research colleagues took it upon themselves to band together and begin projects to address the impact of COVID-19 on the military, Veteran and family population. They stayed in close contact over email and by phone and found means of safely communicating and collaborating in defiance of the pandemic-imposed isolation and confinement. Those discussions naturally evolved into peer-reviewed papers, brilliantly joining science and experience to make sense of the constantly changing world around them.” ➡️ Want to learn more about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted military members, Veterans and their families? Check out the FULL special edition for FREE (no sign-up required): https://bit.ly/3TMtAd4 #research #scientificresearch #military #veteran #militaryfamilies #militaryfamily #familyhealth #healthcare #mentalhealth #militarylife #militarymedicine CIMVHR - Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research

I still don’t understand how we think it’s acceptable to subject the men and women who fight and die for this country to things like non-unanimous juries. It’s especially troubling when military defense counsel are stretched so thin on bases, with fewer resources than their prosecution counterparts. The military justice system isn’t delivering justice in far too many cases, leaving Veterans—especially those with Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharges—without access to the benefits and care they need. We know that many OTH discharges are tied to conditions like PTSD, TBI, and mental health struggles, which were often left untreated during service. The RAND Corporation’s report highlights how these veterans are disproportionately affected by homelessness, depression, and suicide. Yet, they’re locked out of VA support due to an unjust system. It’s time to rethink how we treat these veterans and provide the benefits and care they’ve earned. The system needs reform, and we need to start by recognizing that it’s failing those who sacrificed so much for this country. Let’s give them the resources and justice they deserve. #Veterans #MilitaryJustice #VeteransAffairs #MentalHealth #Reform https://lnkd.in/eafrJisw

Yesterday, the RAND released the Report from the Military and Veteran Caregivers study commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. It is arduous to complete such an endeavor. Congratulations to Rajeev Ramchand for his leadership and continued support of this important work in the caregiver space. The report shows many new statistics, but two that are directly related to my research, 1) Suicide ideation and 2) Inclusion of caregivers in healthcare teams. There is so much more work to do. The new report can be found at, https://lnkd.in/gbphJdz4

ACCESSING SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS At Veterans Guardian, we're dedicated to guiding veterans through the complexities of healthcare. This article explores veteran healthcare services, specialized medical care, and the VA system, ensuring seamless access to the care they deserve. UNDERSTANDING VA HEALTHCARE SERVICES Eligibility for VA Healthcare Before exploring specialized services, it's essential to understand VA healthcare eligibility. Typically, those who served in the military and received an honorable discharge qualify. Visit the VA's website for detailed criteria. https://loom.ly/f5kJuQU ENROLLING IN VA HEALTHCARE Enrollment is the first step to accessing VA healthcare services. Veterans can apply online, by mail, in person at their local VA office, or with the help of a VA-certified representative. SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE FOR VETERANS The VA healthcare system offers a range of specialized services tailored to meet the unique needs of veterans. These services cover a broad spectrum, from mental health support to rehabilitation and beyond. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Mental health care is a priority within the VA healthcare system, offering treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and the psychological effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Veterans can access these services through VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. REHABILITATION SERVICES VA rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, aid veterans in recovering from injuries or illnesses, emphasizing independence. LONG-TERM CARE The VA offers long-term care options for veterans with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related needs, providing support in residential settings and through in-home care. https://loom.ly/t_7neLI ACCESSING SPECIALTY CARE Veterans needing specialty care like cardiology, oncology, or neurology can get referrals to specialists within the VA network or through the Community Care Network. https://loom.ly/cVsQ6EQ NAVIGATING THE VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VA BENEFITS Understanding your VA healthcare benefits is crucial. Veterans Guardian offers resources and support to help you navigate your benefits and access specialized care. ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT For veterans needing help with healthcare access or navigating the VA, Veterans Guardian offers advocacy and support. We're here to guide you on your rights, entitlements, and how to advocate for your healthcare. CONCLUSION Accessing specialized VA healthcare services is crucial for veterans. We're here at Veterans Guardian to guide veterans through eligibility, enrollment, and specialized care. Our aim: to ensure every veteran receives the support they deserve.

Did you know that it’s National VA Research Week? This year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is celebrating researchers’ contributions to the Veteran and Health Science communities. CVP’s Health Research & Technology division supports VA research on important issues impacting our nation’s Veterans. Learn more about the research we’ve been involved in below.     ▶ Improving Equitable, High-Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare Services for Women Veterans CVP, as part of its Titan Alpha, LLC joint venture, worked with the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) Office of Women’s Health (OWH) on an initiative to evaluate Women’s Health Programs at VHA facilities and help sites implement an Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) project selected from the evaluation results. From 2021-2023, 29 VHA facilities completed the evaluation and started quality improvement projects aimed at improving access to comprehensive, gender-specific care; patient experience and environment of care; internal and external care coordination; staff education and training; culture and awareness of trauma-informed care principles; and patient outreach and communication. Read more @ https://lnkd.in/gnBd_Pdw ▶ Studying Suicide Risk Among U.S. Veterans with Military Service During the Vietnam War Given a 2022 VA report finding that suicide rates among Veterans remain consistently higher than nonveterans, CVP provided research support on a VA study analyzing whether military service in the Vietnam War was associated with an increased risk of suicide. While the cohort analysis of approximately 9.6 million Vietnam War-era Veterans did not find an increased risk, CVP was honored to be part of a study seeking to better understand the high number of suicides among U.S. military personnel. Read more @ https://lnkd.in/gfxDKw5t   Learn more about our Health Research & Technology team and their projects by visiting our website at @ https://lnkd.in/erSq3wvj     #NationalVAResearchWeek #HealthcareLeadership #CVPCommunity #CVPHRT #VeteransHealth #MentalHealth #WomensHealth #SuicidePrevention  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  

Healthcare is an essential benefit for our military and their families and it should never be diminished, but… Regaining the trust of Military Treatment Facility (MTF) beneficiaries and building a quality MTF workforce will not be enough to maintain the readiness required to provide trauma care on our future battlefields. History proves that the trauma skills of our uniformed healthcare providers, honed during the recent 20 years of combat, will erode during our current period of relative peace. This “peace effect” will result in needless deaths on our future battlefield. A large percentage of the next war’s initial deaths will be attributable to injuries that would have been survivable had they occurred during our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This deterioration in medical readiness is directly related to the shift in priority described in the attached story. The Defense Health Agency’s efforts to prioritize healthcare delivery through the MTFs means that our uniformed healthcare providers will be more focused on treating a relatively young and healthy population and less focused on the trauma care they’ll be expected to deliver during the next war. More needs to be done to grow the DoD’s nascent partnerships with major metropolitan hospitals that host level I trauma centers. #militarymedicine https://lnkd.in/eX8ttecv

This is a good article describing the plans for MTFs to increase their capacity. It’s important to get patients back into the military hospitals. Busy MTFs = ready medical force of physicians, nurses and corpsmen /medics.