After working together in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Army Master Sgt. Dean Dawson meets again with brother-in-law and chef Albert Rodriguez during the Invincible Spirit Festival at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio. (Courtesy photo) by: Military Health System Communications Office
In this season of celebration and reflection, Army Master Sgt. Dean Dawson is feeling especially appreciative. A volunteer in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he experienced the best of times in people coming together during the worst of times.
“Everyone was all about helping each other and not thinking about themselves,” he said. “I was humbled by what I saw.”
Dawson is a health care NCO at Regional Health Command Central, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was on personal leave when Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast in late August. He’d planned to take his wife to Las Vegas for their 11th wedding anniversary. But the storm made travel difficult, so he ditched that idea.
Then his brother-in-law, a chef for a regional grocery store chain, called. His team needed volunteers to help serve hot meals to those left homeless throughout the state by massive flooding. Dawson decided to use his leave time to assist.
“I hitched up my travel trailer and hit the road,” Dawson said. He headed from San Antonio to Rockport, where he caught up with a caravan heading to NRG Stadium in Houston, home to the city’s NFL team. In all, he drove about 360 miles.
Dawson’s group set up mobile kitchens and joined other volunteers already in place. He spent the next several hours helping to prepare and serve hot meals to about 3,000 storm evacuees.
The next day, Dawson and the group of volunteers headed east to Beaumont. “Gas was getting really, really difficult to find,” he said. To add to the woes, the interstate was closed because floodwaters hadn’t receded. With the caravan taking the long way around, the 85-mile trek took about seven hours, Dawson said.
After finally arriving in Beaumont, Dawson and his group again set up mobile kitchens, this time in the parking lot of one of the grocery chain’s stores. While truckloads of items were brought into the store to restock depleted shelves, Dawson and the other volunteers served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also handed out countless bottles of water. The town had lost its water supply after floodwaters took the water treatment plant offline.
Dawson spent a workweek on the road. He was grimy and physically tired, but the people he encountered inspired him to keep going. Images that stick with him include adults who cried with relief after getting their first hot meal in days; children quietly clutching a parent with one hand while the other hand held on to an empty plate waiting to be filled; teenagers with their faces sunburned from spending long hours outside handing out bottled water, neglecting to take a break and eat; and a well-coiffed woman in hospital scrubs and pearls, jumping in to help despite looking like there was somewhere else she had planned to go.
“Everybody was equal,” Dawson said. “There was no class, no color. There was only one. I saw the best of humanity, I truly did.”
The day after Dawson reported back to work at Fort Sam Houston, he took leave again to attend the funeral of his wife’s cousin, a Houston police officer and Army veteran who drowned early one morning after his service vehicle became trapped in floodwaters. His body was recovered the day Dawson was volunteering in Houston.
“It was especially hard being away from my wife that day,” Dawson said.
Still, he said, he feels lucky that he was able to help out. “A lot of my friends wanted to volunteer, but they couldn’t because so many roads were closed and gas was scarce,” Dawson said.
“What I was doing, a lot of people wanted to do. I was just able to do it because I got out of San Antonio in time.”
Read More ...
In this season of celebration and reflection, Army Master Sgt. Dean Dawson is feeling especially appreciative. A volunteer in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he experienced the best of times in people coming together during the worst of times.
“Everyone was all about helping each other and not thinking about themselves,” he said. “I was humbled by what I saw.”
Dawson is a health care NCO at Regional Health Command Central, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was on personal leave when Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast in late August. He’d planned to take his wife to Las Vegas for their 11th wedding anniversary. But the storm made travel difficult, so he ditched that idea.
Then his brother-in-law, a chef for a regional grocery store chain, called. His team needed volunteers to help serve hot meals to those left homeless throughout the state by massive flooding. Dawson decided to use his leave time to assist.
“I hitched up my travel trailer and hit the road,” Dawson said. He headed from San Antonio to Rockport, where he caught up with a caravan heading to NRG Stadium in Houston, home to the city’s NFL team. In all, he drove about 360 miles.
Dawson’s group set up mobile kitchens and joined other volunteers already in place. He spent the next several hours helping to prepare and serve hot meals to about 3,000 storm evacuees.
The next day, Dawson and the group of volunteers headed east to Beaumont. “Gas was getting really, really difficult to find,” he said. To add to the woes, the interstate was closed because floodwaters hadn’t receded. With the caravan taking the long way around, the 85-mile trek took about seven hours, Dawson said.
After finally arriving in Beaumont, Dawson and his group again set up mobile kitchens, this time in the parking lot of one of the grocery chain’s stores. While truckloads of items were brought into the store to restock depleted shelves, Dawson and the other volunteers served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also handed out countless bottles of water. The town had lost its water supply after floodwaters took the water treatment plant offline.
Dawson spent a workweek on the road. He was grimy and physically tired, but the people he encountered inspired him to keep going. Images that stick with him include adults who cried with relief after getting their first hot meal in days; children quietly clutching a parent with one hand while the other hand held on to an empty plate waiting to be filled; teenagers with their faces sunburned from spending long hours outside handing out bottled water, neglecting to take a break and eat; and a well-coiffed woman in hospital scrubs and pearls, jumping in to help despite looking like there was somewhere else she had planned to go.
“Everybody was equal,” Dawson said. “There was no class, no color. There was only one. I saw the best of humanity, I truly did.”
The day after Dawson reported back to work at Fort Sam Houston, he took leave again to attend the funeral of his wife’s cousin, a Houston police officer and Army veteran who drowned early one morning after his service vehicle became trapped in floodwaters. His body was recovered the day Dawson was volunteering in Houston.
“It was especially hard being away from my wife that day,” Dawson said.
Still, he said, he feels lucky that he was able to help out. “A lot of my friends wanted to volunteer, but they couldn’t because so many roads were closed and gas was scarce,” Dawson said.
“What I was doing, a lot of people wanted to do. I was just able to do it because I got out of San Antonio in time.”
Read More ...
Four tips for staying healthy this holiday seasonThe simple act of washing your hands will decrease the risk of illness for you and your family this holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Michelle Gigante) by: Military Health System Communications Office
The Military Health System can’t guarantee you’ll have a holly, jolly holiday season. But following these health and wellness tips may help make this the best time of the year.
Wash your hands.
It’s simple but powerful advice, not only to avoid getting sick but to avoid spreading germs, said Dr. Terry Adirim, a pediatric emergency physician and deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight.
“At the very least, you should wash your hands before handling food, before eating, and after using the bathroom,” she said. Other activities that call for hand-washing afterward include changing a diaper, caring for someone who’s sick, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands, and touching a pet or other animal.
For the most effective technique, Adirim passed along this advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC: Turn on the tap to wet hands – cold water works as well as warm – then turn it off. Apply soap, and rub your hands together to create lather. Keep at it long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while scrubbing the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Turn the water back on to rinse off the soap, and then dry.
Keep food hot, or cold.
Temperature plays a critical role in preventing the bacteria and viruses that cause foodborne illnesses, said Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Donald Smith, a Veterinary Corps food safety officer with the Defense Health Agency.
Smith recommends using a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and other cooked foods is high enough to kill germs. For both hot and cold foods in the holiday spread, make sure any leftovers are stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers within two hours, he said.
Limit drinking.
“Alcohol should be something you perhaps enjoy for a special occasion,” such as a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year or a glass of wine with a holiday meal, said Army Maj. Kathryn Berryman, a physician at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. But too much alcohol can lead to risky behaviors that endanger well-being, such as getting behind the wheel or engaging in unprotected sex.
Too much alcohol also leads to long-term health problems including heart disease and cancer. “The more you drink, the more quickly you become physically dependent and also build a tolerance,” Berryman said.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, defines one drink as 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content, 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with 40 percent alcohol content.
According to the NIAAA, low-risk drinking for men is no more than four drinks on a single day, and no more than 14 drinks per week. For women, it’s three drinks on a single day, and seven drinks per week. The numbers for women are lower because body composition and other factors typically cause women to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than men.
Low-risk drinking doesn’t mean no risk, according to the NIAAA. People who stick to these guidelines still may have problems if they drink too quickly, have other health concerns, or are older than 60. Also, mixing alcohol with prescription and over-the-counter medications can be deadly.
Take a walk in the woods.
Exercise burns calories and helps clear the mind, and being around nature may be an added boost. Patricia Deuster, director of the USU Consortium for Health and Military Performance, is lead investigator of a team of researchers exploring whether nature has healing powers.
“I’ve always relieved my stress by going outside,” said Deuster, a nationally ranked marathoner, skydiver, and former tennis pro. “I spend time in nature every day. I know how healing it is for me, how it makes me relax and forget about all the stressful stuff.”
Read More ...
Wash your hands.
It’s simple but powerful advice, not only to avoid getting sick but to avoid spreading germs, said Dr. Terry Adirim, a pediatric emergency physician and deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight.
“At the very least, you should wash your hands before handling food, before eating, and after using the bathroom,” she said. Other activities that call for hand-washing afterward include changing a diaper, caring for someone who’s sick, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands, and touching a pet or other animal.
For the most effective technique, Adirim passed along this advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC: Turn on the tap to wet hands – cold water works as well as warm – then turn it off. Apply soap, and rub your hands together to create lather. Keep at it long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while scrubbing the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Turn the water back on to rinse off the soap, and then dry.
Keep food hot, or cold.
Temperature plays a critical role in preventing the bacteria and viruses that cause foodborne illnesses, said Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Donald Smith, a Veterinary Corps food safety officer with the Defense Health Agency.
Smith recommends using a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and other cooked foods is high enough to kill germs. For both hot and cold foods in the holiday spread, make sure any leftovers are stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers within two hours, he said.
Limit drinking.
“Alcohol should be something you perhaps enjoy for a special occasion,” such as a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year or a glass of wine with a holiday meal, said Army Maj. Kathryn Berryman, a physician at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. But too much alcohol can lead to risky behaviors that endanger well-being, such as getting behind the wheel or engaging in unprotected sex.
Too much alcohol also leads to long-term health problems including heart disease and cancer. “The more you drink, the more quickly you become physically dependent and also build a tolerance,” Berryman said.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, defines one drink as 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content, 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with 40 percent alcohol content.
According to the NIAAA, low-risk drinking for men is no more than four drinks on a single day, and no more than 14 drinks per week. For women, it’s three drinks on a single day, and seven drinks per week. The numbers for women are lower because body composition and other factors typically cause women to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than men.
Low-risk drinking doesn’t mean no risk, according to the NIAAA. People who stick to these guidelines still may have problems if they drink too quickly, have other health concerns, or are older than 60. Also, mixing alcohol with prescription and over-the-counter medications can be deadly.
Take a walk in the woods.
Exercise burns calories and helps clear the mind, and being around nature may be an added boost. Patricia Deuster, director of the USU Consortium for Health and Military Performance, is lead investigator of a team of researchers exploring whether nature has healing powers.
“I’ve always relieved my stress by going outside,” said Deuster, a nationally ranked marathoner, skydiver, and former tennis pro. “I spend time in nature every day. I know how healing it is for me, how it makes me relax and forget about all the stressful stuff.”
Read More ...
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Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States "Coast Guard medical teams help first responders in hurricane-ravaged areas"
Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States "Coast Guard medical teams help first responders in hurricane-ravaged areas"
Coast Guard medical teams help first responders in hurricane-ravaged areasA Coast Guard medical team oversees a temporary tent city set up in Key West, Florida, to shelter service members assisting with hurricane recovery efforts. Pictured left to right: Cmdr. Rob Kuhl, Capt. Ezequias Sanchez-Olmo, HS3 Christopher Roche, HS2 Lauren Coghill, HS2 Ivan Castro, and Cmdr. Justin Eubanks. (U.S. Coast Guard) by: Military Health System Communications OfficeCmdr. Donald Kuhl loaded up a Coast Guard truck with a trailer containing his pop-up medical clinic and bed for what would be the next few weeks in Florida. Lt. Cmdr. Jacklyn Finocchio boarded a military flight to Puerto Rico and, upon arrival, had to figure out where to report despite a lack of cellphone service. Each served on separate Coast Guard teams that met and banded together as mobile medical units to assist in areas where disaster had just struck.
In September, at the height of this year’s busy hurricane season, the medical teams offered patient care for first responders and active duty service members taking part in rescue and relief efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico. They also assisted Coast Guard families in the hard-hit areas.
“I was glad we had the preparations and tools in place to immediately go offer help,” said Commander Kuhl, an aeromedical physician assistant. Besides intense heat and a lack of electricity, the challenges they faced included flooded homes and roads, flipped vehicles, and extensive debris.
Equipped with a generator, air conditioner, medical supplies, and tents, the units provided the same care typically available in an outpatient clinic. “It’s all self-contained,” said Kuhl. “Over two days in Orlando, our team evaluated more than 50 patients across the services.”
Kuhl, also a Coast Guard medical contingency planner, made his way to Florida in September with one of the mobile medical units right after Hurricane Irma rolled through. The team first set up camp in Orlando, where many evacuees from areas of coastal Florida, Puerto Rico, and St. Croix were being sheltered. The team quickly moved on to the Florida Keys where damage was extensive.
“It was 95 degrees and 95 percent humidity, and without power, there’s no air conditioning or chance to get a break from the heat,” said Kuhl, adding that heat-related injuries were common.
“We were able to help a pregnant spouse scheduled for a cesarean section that week,” said Kuhl. “The hospital in Key West was closed, so we evaluated her stability and connected her with the right resources to deliver her baby at the local Orlando hospital.”
While one team helped in Florida after Hurricane Irma and restocked its medical supplies, another team on standby prepared for deployment as Hurricane Maria approached Puerto Rico.
“We were just waiting for our chance to help out those we knew needed it,” said Lt. Cmdr. Finocchio, a Public Health Service pharmacy officer and mobile medical unit leader.
Finocchio said the Coast Guard was the first uniformed service to arrive in the western part of Puerto Rico after Maria swept through the island. Responsible for the health care of about 370 Coast Guard members stationed and temporarily assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Finocchio’s team was also the main source of medical care for active duty service members from the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army who arrived about a week later.
The Coast Guard team took first steps into many remote communities by ground and air, helping with searches, rescues, and wellness checks. “There are a few situations that stick in my mind,” said Finocchio. “Whatever mission needed to be done, we all worked together. Everyone was motivated to help the Puerto Rican community.”
In addition to treating relief worker issues like upper respiratory symptoms, fatigue, and accidental injuries, the medical teams informed various agencies of hospital capabilities and joined patrols to identify needs in the community.
Finocchio’s team checked in on a family member of an active duty Coast Guard member and found the individual safe with a supply of critical medications. The team brought food and water over a river to locals because the hurricane had washed out the bridge. They also participated in an ongoing community project closer to Aguadilla when they were off-duty, helping a family rebuild their home.
During search and rescue operations, they retrieved critical medical patients from their homes, including a 3-year-old boy whose family was out of fuel for their generator, and down to only a few hours of battery backup.
“The young boy relies on a ventilator to breathe due to a chronic medical condition,” said Finocchio. “The only way to keep the boy alive was to fly him and his family off the island to a reliable power source. I helped place him on a private jet, arranged within hours through a nonprofit organization. Helping this young boy and his family was one of the most rewarding experiences for me.”Read More
On Jan. 1, 2018, the current three U.S. TRICARE regions consolidate into two. New regional contractors will administer the TRICARE benefit for the East (Humana Military) and West (Health Net Federal Services, LLC) Regions. Due to these changes, it’s possible that your primary care manager (PCM) will no longer be in network.
What can you do? First, check to see if your PCM is still in network. If you’re enrolled in TRICARE Prime and are being assigned a new PCM, your regional contractor will notify you. If enrolled in a plan other than TRICARE PrimeA managed care option available in Prime Service Areas in the United States; you have an assigned primary care manager who provides most of your care.TRICARE Prime, you should also check to see if your specialty care providers will remain in network. Remember that your out-of-pocket costs are lower when using a network provider. The 2018 TRICARE Network Provider Directories are now available when using the online Find a Doctor provider search tool.
Establishing a relationship with a PCM is important so that you have easier access to routine care and the specialty providers and hospital of your choice. You may also make a request to your provider to remain in the network. The Invite a Provider form on the Find a Doctor page outlines the necessary steps.
For more information about the changes coming to TRICARE, visit www.tricare.mil/changes. Stay informed about your benefit and take command of your health.
Read More ...
---VHA Office of Health Equity in Washington, D.C., United States Register for December 18, 2017 FHEA Cyberseminar; Congratulate Kenneth T. Jones, PhD; & Leverage Opportunity for Health Professionals to Address Veteran Health Equity and Care"
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Last Chance to Register for December FHEA Cyberseminar -- Using Quality Improvement Projects to Demonstrate Health Equity in Action for Vulnerable Veterans
The VA Office of Health Equity (OHE) launched the VA Health Equity Themed Quality Improvement Projects Initiative during fiscal year 2014. This initiative was launched to support local and field-based efforts to implement quality improvement efforts that have been designed or identified through existing literature and that are expected to achieve health equity and/or reduce health disparities among vulnerable Veteran groups. The purpose of the current session is to describe quality improvement projects and findings for projects funded by OHE during fiscal year 2017 and discuss lessons learned and actionable steps that can be used by VA facilities, researchers, and stakeholders to inform local and national efforts that advance health equity for vulnerable Veterans.
** Please note, event will take place on a Monday.
Using Quality Improvement Projects to Demonstrate Health Equity in Action for Vulnerable Veterans
What can you do? First, check to see if your PCM is still in network. If you’re enrolled in TRICARE Prime and are being assigned a new PCM, your regional contractor will notify you. If enrolled in a plan other than TRICARE PrimeA managed care option available in Prime Service Areas in the United States; you have an assigned primary care manager who provides most of your care.TRICARE Prime, you should also check to see if your specialty care providers will remain in network. Remember that your out-of-pocket costs are lower when using a network provider. The 2018 TRICARE Network Provider Directories are now available when using the online Find a Doctor provider search tool.
Establishing a relationship with a PCM is important so that you have easier access to routine care and the specialty providers and hospital of your choice. You may also make a request to your provider to remain in the network. The Invite a Provider form on the Find a Doctor page outlines the necessary steps.
For more information about the changes coming to TRICARE, visit www.tricare.mil/changes. Stay informed about your benefit and take command of your health.
Read More ...
---VHA Office of Health Equity in Washington, D.C., United States Register for December 18, 2017 FHEA Cyberseminar; Congratulate Kenneth T. Jones, PhD; & Leverage Opportunity for Health Professionals to Address Veteran Health Equity and Care"
Updates from the VA Office of Health Equity
Last Chance to Register for December FHEA Cyberseminar -- Using Quality Improvement Projects to Demonstrate Health Equity in Action for Vulnerable Veterans
** Please note, event will take place on a Monday.
Using Quality Improvement Projects to Demonstrate Health Equity in Action for Vulnerable Veterans
Monday, December 18, 2017 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST
REGISTER
Learning Objectives
Identify quality improvement strategies and other actions that can be used to advance health equity;
Understand disparities in hysterectomy care in VA and how individual and system level determinants may contribute to disparities;
Recognize differences in patient experience with surgical processes and outcomes; and
Describe VISN-wide implementation of the MOVE! program as a quality improvement strategy to narrow the equity gap among Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Latino Veterans with respect to uncontrolled HbA1c.
Confirmed Speakers
Wendell Jones, MD Chief Medical Officer, VISN 17 Central Texas, Dallas, Texas
Jodie Katon, PhD Scientist, VA Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
Sara Knight, PhD Director, Health Services Research Program, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama
Uchenna S. Uchendu, MD Chief Officer, Office of Health Equity, VA Central Office, Washington, DC
Background Resources
Callegari, L. S., Gardella, C. M., Gray, K. E., Zephyrin, L., Uchendu, U. S., Katon, J. G. (2017, July). Unequal Treatment? Racial/Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy in the Veterans Health Administration. Presented at the 2017 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference, Crystal City, VA.
Gray, K. E., CallegaDri, L. S., Fortney, J. C., Lynch, K. E., Zephyrin, L., Uchendu, U. S., Chen, J. A., Katon, J. G. (2017, July). Identifying and Classifying Health Disparities in VA: Application to Racial Disparities in Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy. Poster presented at the 2017 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference, Crystal City, VA.
Romanova, M., Liang, L. J., Deng, M. L., Li, Z., & Heber, D. (2013). Peer Reviewed: Effectiveness of the MOVE! Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Program for Veterans in Los Angeles. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10, E112.
Wahl, T. S., Goss, L. E., Morris, M. S., Gullick, A. A., Richman, J. S., Kennedy, G. D., Cannon, J. A., Vickers, S. M., Knight, S. J., Simmons, J. W. and Chu, D. I. (2017). Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Eliminates Racial Disparities in Postoperative Length of Stay After Colorectal Surgery. Annals of Surgery.
REGISTER
Office of Health Equity’s Kenneth T. Jones received Leaders for Health Equity Fellowship Certificate
The VA Office of Health Equity would like to congratulate Kenneth T. Jones, PhD for successfully completing the Leaders for Health Equity Fellowship sponsored by George Washington University Health Workforce Institute. The year-long program recently produced its inaugural graduates - a network of global leaders of health professionals prepared to reduce health disparities in vulnerable populations within their organizations and beyond.
The vision of the Fellowship is to develop global leaders who understand the foundations of health inequity and have the knowledge, skills, and courage to build more equitable health systems and organizations. Dr. Jones was among the unique health professionals from the United States and other countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Brazil, and the Philippines) recognized on Friday December 8, 2017 at the George Washington University in Washington DC. Leaders for Health Equity Program co-directors Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan and Dr. Guenevere Burke presented the certificate at the ceremony (pictured above).
As a part of the Fellowship, Dr. Jones identified and developed VA-centric tools for Veterans, VA employees, and other stakeholders to assess health equity as a strategic priority at VA facilities consistent with VA priorities. Congratulations Dr. Kenneth T. Jones!
Photo Caption: Inaugural Class of the Leaders for Health Equity Fellowship Program (2017)
Increasing the Number and Competency of Professionals to Address Veteran Health Equity and Care
The VA Office of Health Equity is committed to increasing the number of health professionals and stakeholders and competency to address the health equity needs of Veterans.
Do you agree that all Veterans should have the opportunity to reach the highest level of health and well-being?
Are you aware of any disparities in health and healthcare among the Veterans within your area of Influence??
Do you know a promising quality improvement strategy/project that can be implemented to narrow the disparity gap?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Office of Health Equity invites you to join us and explore opportunities to engage deliberately and meaningfully, in order to address health and health care disparities among Veterans. In keeping with VHA Health Equity Action Plan - VA’s guiding document for achieving health equity for all Veterans - we continue to provide tools, connections and information about current and future opportunities to engage the VA workforce and all who care for Veterans in health equity pursuits with Veterans and their families as our community of focus
Applications for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars Program will open January 12, 2018. The program provides funding and leadership training to clinically active providers to help leverage their ideas to improve health outcomes in communities across the country (http://clinical-scholars.org). Providers working in collaboration with veterans, their families, and local organizations are encouraged to apply.
The Clinical Scholars program provides funding and leadership training to clinically active providers with experience in providing healthcare services to children, adults, and families. Preferred applicants are engaged in their defined community of focus and motivated to leverage their passion and ideas to improve health beyond the clinical setting. Fellows identify complex ‘wicked’ health equity issues and propose novel interdisciplinary approaches to improve health beyond the clinical setting. Potential fellows apply in multidisciplinary clinical teams (> 2) and may represent the range of health affair professions: dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, social work, and/or veterinary medicine. The currently funded team projects are focused on a range of complex health issues: oral health, mental health and opioid abuse, behavioral health, immigrant health, community violence, and the foster care system (http://clinicalscholarsnli.org).
Let the VA Office of Health Equityknow if you are VA staff or work with Veterans, and plan to leverage this opportunity, so that we can assist and consult as appropriate in order to advance Health Equity Themed Project(s) with VA/Veterans as the community of focus. View funded projects and Fellows at http://clinicalscholarsnli.org/projects/, including one example of Veteran-focused project on this link.
REGISTER
Learning Objectives
Identify quality improvement strategies and other actions that can be used to advance health equity;
Understand disparities in hysterectomy care in VA and how individual and system level determinants may contribute to disparities;
Recognize differences in patient experience with surgical processes and outcomes; and
Describe VISN-wide implementation of the MOVE! program as a quality improvement strategy to narrow the equity gap among Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Latino Veterans with respect to uncontrolled HbA1c.
Confirmed Speakers
Wendell Jones, MD Chief Medical Officer, VISN 17 Central Texas, Dallas, Texas
Jodie Katon, PhD Scientist, VA Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
Sara Knight, PhD Director, Health Services Research Program, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama
Uchenna S. Uchendu, MD Chief Officer, Office of Health Equity, VA Central Office, Washington, DC
Background Resources
Callegari, L. S., Gardella, C. M., Gray, K. E., Zephyrin, L., Uchendu, U. S., Katon, J. G. (2017, July). Unequal Treatment? Racial/Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy in the Veterans Health Administration. Presented at the 2017 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference, Crystal City, VA.
Gray, K. E., CallegaDri, L. S., Fortney, J. C., Lynch, K. E., Zephyrin, L., Uchendu, U. S., Chen, J. A., Katon, J. G. (2017, July). Identifying and Classifying Health Disparities in VA: Application to Racial Disparities in Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy. Poster presented at the 2017 HSR&D/QUERI National Conference, Crystal City, VA.
Romanova, M., Liang, L. J., Deng, M. L., Li, Z., & Heber, D. (2013). Peer Reviewed: Effectiveness of the MOVE! Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Program for Veterans in Los Angeles. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10, E112.
Wahl, T. S., Goss, L. E., Morris, M. S., Gullick, A. A., Richman, J. S., Kennedy, G. D., Cannon, J. A., Vickers, S. M., Knight, S. J., Simmons, J. W. and Chu, D. I. (2017). Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Eliminates Racial Disparities in Postoperative Length of Stay After Colorectal Surgery. Annals of Surgery.
REGISTER
Office of Health Equity’s Kenneth T. Jones received Leaders for Health Equity Fellowship Certificate
The vision of the Fellowship is to develop global leaders who understand the foundations of health inequity and have the knowledge, skills, and courage to build more equitable health systems and organizations. Dr. Jones was among the unique health professionals from the United States and other countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Brazil, and the Philippines) recognized on Friday December 8, 2017 at the George Washington University in Washington DC. Leaders for Health Equity Program co-directors Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan and Dr. Guenevere Burke presented the certificate at the ceremony (pictured above).
As a part of the Fellowship, Dr. Jones identified and developed VA-centric tools for Veterans, VA employees, and other stakeholders to assess health equity as a strategic priority at VA facilities consistent with VA priorities. Congratulations Dr. Kenneth T. Jones!
Increasing the Number and Competency of Professionals to Address Veteran Health Equity and Care
Do you agree that all Veterans should have the opportunity to reach the highest level of health and well-being?
Are you aware of any disparities in health and healthcare among the Veterans within your area of Influence??
Do you know a promising quality improvement strategy/project that can be implemented to narrow the disparity gap?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Office of Health Equity invites you to join us and explore opportunities to engage deliberately and meaningfully, in order to address health and health care disparities among Veterans. In keeping with VHA Health Equity Action Plan - VA’s guiding document for achieving health equity for all Veterans - we continue to provide tools, connections and information about current and future opportunities to engage the VA workforce and all who care for Veterans in health equity pursuits with Veterans and their families as our community of focus
Applications for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars Program will open January 12, 2018. The program provides funding and leadership training to clinically active providers to help leverage their ideas to improve health outcomes in communities across the country (http://clinical-scholars.org). Providers working in collaboration with veterans, their families, and local organizations are encouraged to apply.
The Clinical Scholars program provides funding and leadership training to clinically active providers with experience in providing healthcare services to children, adults, and families. Preferred applicants are engaged in their defined community of focus and motivated to leverage their passion and ideas to improve health beyond the clinical setting. Fellows identify complex ‘wicked’ health equity issues and propose novel interdisciplinary approaches to improve health beyond the clinical setting. Potential fellows apply in multidisciplinary clinical teams (> 2) and may represent the range of health affair professions: dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, social work, and/or veterinary medicine. The currently funded team projects are focused on a range of complex health issues: oral health, mental health and opioid abuse, behavioral health, immigrant health, community violence, and the foster care system (http://clinicalscholarsnli.org).
Let the VA Office of Health Equityknow if you are VA staff or work with Veterans, and plan to leverage this opportunity, so that we can assist and consult as appropriate in order to advance Health Equity Themed Project(s) with VA/Veterans as the community of focus. View funded projects and Fellows at http://clinicalscholarsnli.org/projects/, including one example of Veteran-focused project on this link.
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Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, D.C., United States 'Fall, 2017'"
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Fall, 2017
The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the results of OIG oversight, provides statistical information, and lists all reports issued April 1–September 30, 2017. During this reporting period, OIG audits, investigations, inspections, evaluations, and other reviews identified over $9 billion in monetary benefits for a return of $134 for every dollar invested in OIG oversight. During this reporting period, OIG issued 194 reports and work products on VA programs and operations, made 898 recommendations, and conducted investigations that led to 162 arrests.
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Guard and Reserve Support Network in Washington D.C. United States "Time is running out to nominate your employer!" Nominate your civilian employer for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Do you have an awesome employer!?
Only two weeks left! Nominate your employer today.
Has your employer's support made it easier for you to serve in the National Guard or Reserve? Does your civilian employer promote military service, support your family, and keep in contact while you're on routine duty, responding to natural disasters, or serving in a deployed location? If so, you should nominate your civilian employer for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
The Freedom Award is the U.S. government's highest award for large, small, and public organizations (not individuals, e.g. a supervisor, manager, etc.) that provide outstanding support of their Guard and Reserve employees. The nomination form takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and can be found at FreedomAward.mil. Just click "Nominate Employer" on the homepage, and then tell us the story of how your employer supports you and fellow military employees.
Up to 15 employers will be chosen to receive the Freedom Award and be honored with a ceremony at the Pentagon in August. The nominee and award recipients will attend this special event. Nomination season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2017.
Please do not reply to this email, but send any questions to OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil. For more information, please visit us at ESGR.mil or FreedomAward.mil
Thank you for your service to our Nation!
Connect with us at:
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Questions for MHS?
Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, D.C., United States 'Fall, 2017'"
Fall, 2017
The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the results of OIG oversight, provides statistical information, and lists all reports issued April 1–September 30, 2017. During this reporting period, OIG audits, investigations, inspections, evaluations, and other reviews identified over $9 billion in monetary benefits for a return of $134 for every dollar invested in OIG oversight. During this reporting period, OIG issued 194 reports and work products on VA programs and operations, made 898 recommendations, and conducted investigations that led to 162 arrests.
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Guard and Reserve Support Network in Washington D.C. United States "Time is running out to nominate your employer!" Nominate your civilian employer for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Only two weeks left! Nominate your employer today.
Has your employer's support made it easier for you to serve in the National Guard or Reserve? Does your civilian employer promote military service, support your family, and keep in contact while you're on routine duty, responding to natural disasters, or serving in a deployed location? If so, you should nominate your civilian employer for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
The Freedom Award is the U.S. government's highest award for large, small, and public organizations (not individuals, e.g. a supervisor, manager, etc.) that provide outstanding support of their Guard and Reserve employees. The nomination form takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and can be found at FreedomAward.mil. Just click "Nominate Employer" on the homepage, and then tell us the story of how your employer supports you and fellow military employees.
Up to 15 employers will be chosen to receive the Freedom Award and be honored with a ceremony at the Pentagon in August. The nominee and award recipients will attend this special event. Nomination season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2017.
Please do not reply to this email, but send any questions to OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil. For more information, please visit us at ESGR.mil or FreedomAward.mil
Thank you for your service to our Nation!
Connect with us at:
- https://www.facebook.com/GoESGR/
- https://www.facebook.com/YellowRibbonReintegrationProgram/?ref=settings
- http://www.yellowribbon.mil/yrrp/
- https://guardreserves.com/
Department of Defense, Family and Employer Programs and Policy
Questions for MHS?
STAY CONNECTED:
Military Health System
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301, United States
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