Invisible wounds of war
Invisible wounds of war : psychological and cognitive injuries, their consequences, and services to assist recovery / Terri Tanielian, Lisa H. Jaycox. Rand Corp, April 2008
The Rand specifically highlights the critical importance of the developing best practices to deal with the onslaught of mental and behavioral health challenges facing the nation’s warriors, their families, and veterans. This report states that the DoD, VA, and other government entities need to improve that quality of healthcare delivered. Currently there is no standardized system of training and or certifying mechanism to validate the competency of mental and behavioral healthcare providers on military culture in the clinical setting, and patient-centered best practices.
http://www.qascores.com/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.pdf
Serve, Support, Simplify
Serve, Support, Simplify – The President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors / July 2007
The President’s Commission Report emphasized the following points. Making the significant improvements the Commission recommendation requires a sense of urgency and strong leadership. The tendency to make systems too complex and rule-bound must be countered by a new perspective, grounded in an understanding of the importance of patient-centeredness.
http://www.veteransforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/presidents-commission-on-care-for-americas-returning-wounded-warriors-report-july-2007.pdf
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the VA Healthcare
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the VA Healthcare: A Systematic Review; Department of Veterans AffairsHealth Services Research & Development Service, June 2007
The VA’s own internal review highlighted the need for the development and launch of tools to assist patients and healthcare providers more effectively interact. There is a recognized need to improve the health outcomes for the VA’s diverse patient population. Currently the is documented disparities in care delivery and outcomes in the following disease states (Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Arthritis and Pain Management; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cancer; Diabetes; and HIV / Hepatitis C. The VA also noted the VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) that disproportionately serve minority veterans have fewer available services or deliver lower quality care overall than VAMCs serving predominately white veterans.
http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/esp/RacialDisparities-2007.pdf
Adolescent Brain Development and Juvenile Justice
Adolescent Brain Development and Juvenile Justice – Fact Sheet
47 percent of the soldiers in the Army are between the ages of 17-24 years. 67% of the Marines in the Marine Corps are between the ages of 17-24 years. This article states that recent magnetic brain imagery technology has shown the brain does not complete its frontal lobe development until the age of 25. The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for executive function and higher lever thinking. The emotional stressors and traumas of war may have a more deleterious impact on the mental and behavioral health conditions of adolescent service members, and veterans.
http://www.act4jj.org/media/factsheets/factsheet_12.pdf
Young Vets with PTSD more Prone to Heart Risk Factors
Adolescent Brain Development and Juvenile Justice – Fact Sheet
47 percent of the soldiers in the Army are between the ages of 17-24 years. 67% of the Marines in the Marine Corps are between the ages of 17-24 years. This article states that recent magnetic brain imagery technology has shown the brain does not complete its frontal lobe development until the age of 25. The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for executive function and higher lever thinking. The emotional stressors and traumas of war may have a more deleterious impact on the mental and behavioral health conditions of adolescent service members, and veterans.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/08/04/young-vets-with-ptsd-more-prone-to-heart-risk.html
