WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told women veterans on Friday that the agency is working to eliminate disparities in the care offered to women and men.
An internal review by the VA submitted to Congress last week found that women veterans aren’t getting the same quality of outpatient care as men in about one-third of the VA’s 139 facilities that offer it.
“We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care,” Peake said, speaking at the National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues, put on by the VA and veterans service organizations.
That internal report, first disclosed by the Associated Press a week ago, also said there are clear needs for more physicians trained in women’s care and more equipment to meet women’s health needs.
On Friday, Peake noted that in 1950, women made up about 2 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces, but the number has increased to about 14 percent. As more female soldiers return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the percent of vets served by the VA is expected to nearly double in the next couple of years from the current 5 percent.
Peake said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of women veterans from the recent conflicts are under age 40, and have health needs related to having children. He said the agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women’s health needs.
He received courteous applause from the few hundred veterans in attendance, some of whom wore T-shirts that said, “Remember women are veterans too.”
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake told women veterans on Friday that the agency is working to eliminate disparities in the care offered to women and men.
An internal review by the VA submitted to Congress last week found that women veterans aren’t getting the same quality of outpatient care as men in about one-third of the VA’s 139 facilities that offer it.
Getting rid of inequalities according to VA Secretary James Peake, what barries and discrepancies?! What obstacles and disparities continue or persist regarding more equipment and training additional doctors so they can satisfy women's health care needs?! Be specific.
Quote:
"VHA is continuing to investigate the possibility of gender disparity in delivery of care through research efforts aimed at further delineating the factors involved," the review said.
According to Daily Herald | Study suggests discrepancies in VA care for men, women the study stated better surgical outcome and decreased mortality for women at VA hosptials compared to women getting care under the Medicare Advantage Program or privae care. Less deaths for men and their care is better than women?!
Quote:
Peake said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of women veterans from the recent conflicts are under age 40, and have health needs related to having children. He said the agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women’s health needs.
The study and Peake conveniently overlook the following?!
VA Programs for Women Veterans
Public Law 102-585, Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, authorized new and expanded services for women veterans, including counseling for sexual trauma on a priority basis; specific health services for women, such as Pap smears, mammography, and general reproductive health care (including birth control and treatment of menopause) at many VA medical facilities. VA Programs for Women Veterans - Women Veterans Health
Some of the 25 frequently asked questions about women veterans health.
Quote:
Question: What services are available to women veterans?
Answer: A full continuum of comprehensive medical services including health promotion and disease prevention, primary care, women’s gender-specific health care e.g., hormone replacement therapy, breast and gynecological care, maternity and limited infertility (excluding In-vitro fertilization), acute medical/surgical, telephone, emergency and substance abuse treatment, mental health, domiciliary, rehabilitation and long term care. VA researchers at many VA facilities also conduct medical research on women’s health.
Question: How do I access the system for services?
Answer: Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10EZ. The 10-10EZ may be obtained by visiting, calling or writing any VA health care facility or veterans’ benefits office. You can also call the VA Health Benefits Call Center toll-free at 877-222 VETS (877-222-8387) or access the form on the Internet @ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Click on on-line applications.)
Medical Research Service provides knowledge of the fundamental biological processes to form an understanding of disease pathology, diagnosis, and treatment.
Cooperative Studies Program applies the knowledge gained from medical research to patients by determining the effectiveness of novel or unproved therapies using multi-center clinical intervention trials.
The Health Services Research and Development Service (HSRD) contributes to improving the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility of health care services for veterans.
The Rehabilitation Research and Development Service addresses the minimization of disability and restoration of function in veterans disabled by trauma or disease. Some important DVA research websites to know are:
Question: How can I get gender specific services, including pap smears, mammography, pre-natal and childcare?
Answer: Apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10EZ. The 10-10EZ may be obtained by visiting, calling or writing any VA health care facility or veterans’ benefits office. You can also call toll-free 877-222 VETS (877-222-8387) or access the form on the Internet @ www.va.gov/elig. The provision of health care to non-veteran children is limited to those instances where specific authority is given to VA by law. Contact your local VA health care facility and ask to speak with the Women Veterans Program Manager (white pages under U.S. Government, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Question: Are VA services authorized for women veterans who were involuntarily discharged from the military for pregnancy prior to May 1974? If not, how does one get this issue addressed?
Answer: The provision of health care services to veterans is established by certain eligibility criteria and discharge status requirements. To determine your eligibility for services contact your nearest VA health care facility.
Question: What is the process of getting quality of care issues addressed?
Answer: Contact the Women Veterans Program Manager at your local health care facility (white pages under U.S. Government, Department of Veterans Affairs) or the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Office of Women Veterans Health @ (202) 273-8577 or the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Center for Women Veterans @ (202) 273-6193.
Question: Where can I get inpatient psychiatric care as a woman veteran?
Answer: Most VA Medical Centers have inpatient mental health programs. Contact your VA Primary Care Provider or the local Mental Health Program office for assistance. If you already have a therapist and need inpatient care, please discuss your concerns with your therapist. If you have urgent or emergent needs, you can contact your local VA health care facility telephone care program or urgent care clinic.
Question: What happens in the case when a veteran has an obstetrics related emergency prior to enrolling?
Answer: If a women veteran is enrolled and we know she is pregnant, fee-basis care would have been authorized in advance. In the event of an obstetric emergency, she would go to the hospital and the hospital would be reimbursed for services provided under VA contract .
Eligible veterans are encouraged to enroll for VA health care as soon early as possible in the pregnancy to ensure that any maternity care provided by non-VA providers can be reimbursed.
Question: Why doesn't the Veteran's Administration deliver babies?
Answer: DVA has no authority to provide care to the newborn infant. Local facilities will assist the veteran in accessing community resources. When the pregnant veteran has a total disability, permanent in nature, resulting from a service-connected disability, and the child is not otherwise eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), then newborn infant could receive care under Civilian Health and Medial Program of VA (CHAMPVA). 25 Frequently Asked Questions - Women Veterans Health
VA Women's Health Care Years ago, women veterans were a very small part of the patient population in VA. But that is changing. Women now represent about 15 percent of active duty, 20 percent of new recruits and 17 percent of reserve and National Guard forces. They are starting to use VA more too, with over 40 percent of women serving in OIF/OEF coming through the doors. Yet fewer women, on average, choose the VA for their health care compared to men.
VA women's health care seems to be a "well-kept secret." Women who do not use the VA often do not realize they have VA benefits. They do not realize that most VAs have women's clinics. And they assume VA doctors do not know how to treat women. But most women who have come to VA would disagree. They rate VA quality of care as high. And to them, having a women's clinic is a very important reason for coming to the VA.
What Does VA Women's Health Care Look Like? National surveys show that two-thirds of VA hospitals and large clinics have separate women's clinics. One quarter of those also have special women's health doctors in regular VA primary care clinics. Those that do not have women's clinics tend to have at least one women's health doctor in primary care or they have a gynecology clinic instead. Most VA women's clinics have exam rooms set apart from men. And many have private waiting rooms just for women. About three-quarters of VA women's clinics have women providers. And women always have the option to see a male doctor when that is preferred.
VA hospitals have expanded access to women's health services. Women veterans should be able to get cervical cancer screening (Pap smears) at almost any VA medical center. Over 90 percent of VAs offer on-site care for common women's problems. These include menstrual problems, management of symptoms of menopause, ******l infections, contraception, and sexual trauma screening and counseling. When a VA cannot offer the service directly, they will either send a woman veteran to another VA hospital or arrange for care outside the VA. For example, 50 percent of VAs can do osteoporosis (bone thinning) screening. But the rest are performed at either a larger VA or through contracts with a health care provider in the community. Almost all VAs also offer pregnancy tests. Pregnant women veterans, however, are sent to community doctors for their prenatal care or genetic screening when needed. More specialized women's health services are more likely to be done in larger VA hospitals or are referred to community doctors. Services like breast cancer treatment, gynecologic surgery, and infertility treatment are usually done in larger VA hospitals or by community doctors who have seen more cases.
How VA Health Research is Helping Women The VA has developed a national research agenda focused on understanding women veterans' needs and studying new ways to meet them. More VA-based women's health research is being funded than ever before. Researchers in Los Angeles are studying the quality of care that VA women's clinics deliver. Boston researchers are studying barriers to VA care among women veterans. VA researchers in Palo Alto are evaluating military sexual trauma screening and treatment programs. https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-port...-health08.html
VA R&D Women's Health Women historically have served in the military and they continue to do so in growing numbers today. In fact, currently women represent about 14 percent of active duty forces and 20 percent of new military recruits. Women represent 5.5 percent of the 27 million veterans, and this number is projected to increase to 10 percent by the year 2010.
The expansion of women in the military is reshaping the veteran population. Further, the growing number of women veterans is placing new demands on the Veterans Health Administration (VA). VA is committed to providing high quality, accessible, cost effective to care to all veterans. In recognition of this changing demographic in the veteran population and the special health care needs of women, the VA established women's health as a research priority to develop new knowledge about how to best provide for the health and care of women veterans. VA has built an increasingly productive portfolio of biomedical, clinical, rehabilitation and health services research since the early 1990's.
In early 2004, the VA Office of Research & Development tasked a VA Women's Health Research Planning Group to develop a comprehensive VA women's health research agenda that spanned VA's commitment to biomedical, clinical, rehabilitation and health services research. That group convened a ground-breaking research agenda setting meeting in November of 2004. Presentations from that meeting are available online. VA R&D Women's Health Research Conference
VA women's health research program overview VA Office of Research and Development's efforts toward improving women's health. VA R&D Women's Health
Prior to the expansion of VA health care for women veterans, during the 1990's I was able to get GYN treatment and that was about it. Later on, I was able to receive medical care from mental health, mammograms, regular screening for cervical cancer, and other GYN issues. In addition, women veterans receive health care from cardiac to PTSD.
Times I went to the Cincinnati VA Medical Center VAMC Cincinnati Home Page. Likewise for Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Home Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Home in St. Petersburg Florida and Sarasota VA Primary Care Clinic http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/f...=5028&dnum=All Sarasota Florida. Both VA facilities have up-to-date equipment, and doctors and nursing staff at the performed their jobs well, and they were attentive and caring. And the care I have received has been outstanding.
Likewise for the Cincinnati Vet Center Veterans Center Veterans Center - CincinnatiVAMC. Mental health services for men and women veteras, their spouses, significant other, and their family.
WHAT MORE DOES THE STUDY, THE MEDIA AND THE LEGISLATORS/POLITICIANS WANT?!
What is the study's and the media's agenda?!
Where was the public clamor prior to the 2008 election?
__________________
"If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them."
06-22-2008, 23:47
VA secretary: Care of women vets will improve 
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