Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Processing Dilemmas

Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Processing Dilemmas

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a cabinet-level agency in the U.S. government. The mission of the VA is taken from Lincoln's second inaugural address and is to "care for him who shall have borne the battle, his widow and orphans." Pursuant to this fundamental mission, the VA administers the largest healthcare system in the country and has trained more than half of all of the physicians practicing in the U.S. today.

Agency Functions.

Today, the VA is the second-largest agency in the federal government and employs more than 220,000 people in three primary functions as follows:

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA); this division employs about 13,000 people in 57 regional benefit offices, and provides financial assistance to veterans through disability compensation and pension, education, and home loans;

B.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA): this division employs around 200,000 people in 163 tertiary…… [Read More]

HRM and the Department of Veterans Affairs

HM and the Department of Veterans Affairs

Human esource Change Management Plan Approach Paper for Department of Veterans Affairs Objective E.1 from the FY 2003-2008 Strategic Plan

Like every other organization in the world today, employees are the foundation of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the key to its success. In spite of the enormous contribution made by VA to the country in caring for its veterans and their families, the department has experienced some negative publicity as a result of various failures in patient care and administration that have adversely affected employee morale across the board (Veterans' Hospital under Investigation, 2003). Therefore, the purpose of this initiative is to ensure that VA has the workforce it needs to serve veterans and their families, today and in the future. The 21st century presents VA with an unprecedented set of human capital challenges -- an aging workforce, a shifting and…… [Read More]

An Analysis of the Organizational Development Contracting Process at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Organizational Development Contracting Process at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Organizational development (OD) consultation is a complex enterprise, and the contracting process that is used to define and manage the work can also be a challenge in both the public and private sectors (Vogelsang & Townsend, 2013). When it comes to addressing the problems that are being experienced by an organizational behemoth such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), though, the challenges can be immense and seemingly insurmountable. Fortunately, there are some proven steps available to OD consultants that can help them work through the miasma of bureaucratic complexity to hone in on the real problems that are adversely affecting their clients. To this end, this paper provides a review of the related literature concerning the OD contracting process as applied to the recent problems being experienced by the VA with respect to patient scheduling and the provision…… [Read More]

Treating Hypertension Among a Population of Combat Veterans

Reducing Hypertension Among Male Veterans Aged 25 to 60 Years in Houston Texas

• Area size: The fourth most populous city in the country (after New York, Los Angeles and Chicago), Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation and the largest city in the southern U.S. And Texas (Houston facts and figures, 2014). The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (Houston CMSA) is comprised of eight separate counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller (Houston facts and figures, 2014). The Houston CMSA includes 8,778 square miles, an area larger than New Jersey (Houston facts and figures, 2014).

• Population size: As of 2010, the City of Houston had a population of 2.1 million; as of 2010; the metro area's population of 5.95 million was the 6th largest among U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and represented a 26% increase since 2000 (Houston facts and figures, 2014).…… [Read More]

Ethical Dilemma in a Department of Veterans

Ethical Dilemma in a Department of Veterans Affairs Tertiary Healthcare Facility

Selection of the environment.

Selected environment. The environment for the proposed study will be a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center (hereinafter alternatively "VAMC") that provides the full complement of tertiary healthcare services. The pseudonym for the selected facility will be "Lincolnville VAMC" (because the VA's motto is derived from Lincoln's second inaugural address).

Description of environment and rationale for selection. The Lincolnville VAMC provides tertiary healthcare services for veterans living in a 25-county area in a midwestern state. Besides its operations in the main facility, the Lincolnville VAMC also operates two community-based outpatient clinics. Some of the primary services offered by the Lincolnville VAMC include:

Behavioral Health Service: This service provides consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a variety of issues that can impact emotional well-being.

2) Pharmacy: This service processes more than 80,000 prescriptions each month.

3)…… [Read More]

Sociology the Department of Veterans

This "complex bureaucracy" may at least partially explain the controversy that surrounds many Veterans Hospitals after accusations of poor conditions and health care have tarnished the VA's image during the past year. Two Washington Post reporters write, "Stories of neglect and substandard care have flooded in from soldiers, their family members, veterans, doctors and nurses working inside the system" (Hull and Priest, 2007, p. A01). The arguments against these problems has steadily grown, and as they have grown, new problems have been uncovered. With so many returning veterans, the VA is finding it difficult to cope with the sheer numbers of veterans involved. The Post reporters continue, "Nearly 4,000 outpatients are currently in the military's Medical Holding or Medical Holdover companies, which oversee the wounded. Soldiers and veterans report bureaucratic disarray [...] indifferent, untrained staff; lost paperwork; medical appointments that drop from the computers; and long waits for consultations" (Hull…… [Read More]

Department of Homeland Security A

The management of large organizations is a very crucial issue, whether they are government-related or not (Argyris, 1993; Argyris & Schon, 1978; Broom, Jackson, Harris, & Vogelsang-Coombs, n.d.; Brown & Brudney, 2003; Hatry, 1999; Haynes, 1999). Often, however, the government does not seem to realize that it must manage itself in the same way that a business would in certain aspects if it is to succeed and therefore it does not market itself to the public.

The spending that has been involved with the Department of Homeland Security is also crucial, because it has changed over time to reflect the needs and the realization of what it takes to make the Department work (Eggen & Mintz, 2003). This spending is important to discuss, because it indicates how much of the government's money - and by extension how much of the tax dollars of Americans - is going toward funding this…… [Read More]

Veterans with PTSD

The War on Terror has led to an extended war in the Middle East that started with a U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, spread to Iraq, and has steadily engulfed other states as well. Returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has impacted the work and family life of these veterans (Vogt et al., 2017). 1.3 million veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq interventions are at risk for suicide (Kang et al., 2015). Hundreds of thousands of this same population suffer from identity adjustment as the return to civilian life and attempt to make the transition from military norms to civilian living (Orazem et al., 2017). This paper will discuss this specific population, its needs, policies and laws that impact this population, barriers to resource utilization, and how the nursing profession can promote change to improve healthcare outcomes for this veteran population.
The…… [Read More]

Problem Veteran's Being Discharged From the Military Are Facing

veterans leaving the military. Specifically, it will attempt to solve some of the problems veterans being discharged from the military are facing. Veterans returning from the war in Iraq face a variety of problems and issues, and many of them are not being addressed by the military. Health care is one vital problem, many veterans coming home find that if they need health care, the Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals are so crowded they cannot receive treatment for weeks or even months. However, probably the biggest problem facing returning vets is readjusting to civilian life, and all that entails, from dealing with family and friends to the stresses of their jobs. Many returning vets will not admit they may need mental health counseling, and if they do admit it, they may not be able to find it. The problems of returning veterans are many, and until we learn how to solve…… [Read More]

Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Wars

This is important because it reflect the certain difficulties the government has to stimulate the employment of veterans in a line of work of their choice.

Other statistics mention that not only do a large number of veterans have a disability related to their position but rather the fact that they are part of a system which has a rate of unemployment too high for the United States. More precisely, "In 2007, the unemployment rate among veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces since September 2001 was 6.1%, the ureau of Labor Statistics (LS) of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. About 17% of these veterans, also called Gulf War-era II veterans had a service-connected disability in August 2007. The jobless rate for veterans of all eras combined was 3.8% in 2007. About 12% of all veterans had a service-connected disability in August 2007" (ureau of Labor Statistics,…… [Read More]

Advocacy Veterans of the United

Most advocacy groups can help the families of veterans also understand their legal entitlements to support services.

Congressional representatives can occasionally come to the aid of their constituents who are veterans. Lawmakers listening to the concerns of their constituents can bring special cases to the attention of their fellow congressmen and women in Washington to help advocate on behalf of veterans and veterans affairs. Some congressional representatives may be willing to serve on special committees that advocate for veterans affairs in Washington.

Social workers have an obligation to learn about the large-scale organizations that serve the needs of veterans as well as smaller scale community organizations. Even social workers that do not specialize in veterans affairs should become familiar with the unique legal situation of their clients. For example, social workers should familiarize themselves with the specific medical, social, occupational, and psychiatric needs that veterans have, especially the veterans that…… [Read More]

Emerging Social Work Crisis for Veterans and Their Families

careers, many social workers will encounter individuals who are veterans of active duty military service. Like other client populations, veterans may experience issues with their day-to-day living requirements that require assistance, but these individuals may also experience a wide range of problems that are unique to service in the armed forces. This paper reviews the relevant literature to determine how current social work policies in the United States address issues of inequality, oppression or social justice for military veterans, the social work staff's ability to provide quality social work services, and ethical issues that affect social work values and practice in this area. An analysis concerning alternative approaches that social work and others could advocate or organize on behalf of veterans is followed by an assessment of which models of advocacy (Jannson or Hayes & Mickelson) are currently being used with this client population. Finally, a summary of the research…… [Read More]

current policy on veteran homelessness

Current Policy

The Obama Administration had pledged to end veteran homelessness, an interesting pledge given the myriad of complex reasons why people become homeless. But they were able to make progress towards that objective. The White House announced in 2016 that it had be able to cut veteran homelessness by 47% as of 2016 (Zoroya, 2016). The number living on the street was reduced 56% during the 2010-2016 time period. This was the result of a number of different approaches, which highlight the way that policy is addressed in this area.

The project to end veteran homelessness was the result of a coordinated effort by two departments, the Bureau of Veteran Affairs (VA) and Housing & Urban Development. The VA cites three components of its plan: conducting outreach to seek out veterans in need; connecting homeless and at-risk veterans with housing solutions; and collaborating with various government agencies, employers, housing…… [Read More]

Suicide and Veterans A Nationwide Epidemic

Speaking Truth to Health Policy: Helping Veterans eadjust

Every day, at least 20 combat veterans commit suicide in the United States, or one veteran every 65 seconds (Shane & Kime, 2016). This alarming trend is attributable in large part to the symptoms that many people suffer from after experiencing traumatic episodes in their lives. Drawing on the sources of power enumerated by Mason, Gardner, Hopkins Outlaw and O'Grady (2016).This paper provides a current description concerning the health policy adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in response to this nation-wide problem to determine how the situation could benefit from having nurses speak truth to power. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning this issue are presented in the conclusion.

The condition currently known as posttraumatic stress disorder is certainly not a new construct. In World War I, the condition was termed "shell shock" and in World…… [Read More]

Military Tactic the United States Department of

military tactic, the United States Department of Defense authorized the use of chemical warfare during the Vietnam ar. It was a radical strategy: to eradicate all foliage and ground cover in the war zones in order to prevent guerillas from hiding and therefore sabotaging American troops. The Department of Defense called its chemical warfare program Operation Ranch Hand. Companies like Monsanto and Dow Chemicals designed compounds and named them after the colored drums they were shipped in, and the most famous of these compounds was Agent Orange. Agent Orange left a devastating impact not only in Vietnam but also in the American troops exposed to its deadly chemical compounds like dioxin. Because of the extreme health and environmental ramifications of exposure to Agent Orange, the United States government needs to take responsibility for its actions and offer financial and structural support for the victims at home and in Southeast Asia.…… [Read More]

Nursing Organization the Nurses Organization of Veterans

Nursing Organization

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA)

Purpose, Mission and Vision

NOVA exists to fulfill a very important function in the United States: Providing healthcare services to the nation's war veterans. To be able to do this, the organization's mission is to "shape and influence healthcare in the Department of Verterans Affairs (NOVA Foundation, 2012).

NOVA's vision has six components:

To provide high quality nursing care.

To provide nurses with an optimal work environment.

To keep nurses informed on relevant issues regarding VA health care and nursing.

To create opportunities for VA nurses to function at the leadership level.

To recruit all VA nurses for NOVA membership.

Advantages of Membership

The most obvious benefit of membership is the ability to connect with other members, who can offer support for specific challenges related to the professions. This opportunity to work with others also strengthens the ability of the VA…… [Read More]

SBAR Analysis of a Vietnam Veteran

individual health history and examination of a 61-year-old American male Vietnam veteran, "Mr. John Veteran" using the SBAR approach. Mr. Veteran is married, with two adult children and three grandsons, aged 4, 7 and 12 years by his older daughter who is a registered nurse in an intensive care unit; his younger daughter is a senior in college majoring in business administration (she received a full scholarship to a private college). Mr. Veteran earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership at a small midwestern university. Although Mr. Veteran continues to work full time as a paralegal, he advises that he intends to "semi-retire" when he turns 62 years next year and becomes eligible for Social Security payments. Mr. Veteran smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and drinks beer on occasion, but does not take drugs, even for severe pain, because he is worried about becoming addicted to them.

Although…… [Read More]

Employment Letter Creative Arts Therapist Dear Department

Employment Letter

Creative Arts Therapist

Dear Department of Veterans Affairs,

I am writing to apply for the position of Creative Arts Therapist (Music), as advertised on the U.S.A. JOBS database (http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/324855700). I am an American citizen and am compelled to treat those who have fought in the armed services. I also have a valid American driver's license, and would be available to relocate on short notice. It would truly be an honor and a privilege to assist the heroes who fight for our freedom.

I am currently receiving my associate's degree in Creative Arts Therapy. Although I do not possess substantial experience, my familiarity with both psychotherapy and dramatic arts ensures that I will provide outstanding service. I am talented in assembling pre-evaluation data, interpreting medical records, review prescriptions issued by the physician, conducting mental and physical evaluations, and finally, developing treatment plans. I have energy and compassion and will…… [Read More]

New Mexico Veteran's Affairs Healthcare

Working with the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs to define future growth plans - This is also critical as more and more patients age and require specialized services. The NMVHCS needs to continue working with the Department of Veteran's Affairs to plan for and respond to the needs of the aging veteran's population.

Financial situation/needs

As the NMVHCS is completely funded by the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, their financial needs are budgeted as part of that federal agency.

Primary competitors

As the NMVHCS is underwritten by the U.S. Government and does not specifically compete with private healthcare, there are no other primary competitors in the region from a government perspective. There is however the competition for federal funds with other agencies throughout the region. In terms of healthcare however, the veterans in the region receive greatly reduced prices and have in some cases free medical care for their lifetimes,…… [Read More]

Privacy Violations and Malpractice at the Okc VA Medical Center

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates the nation's largest healthcare system through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), including 152 medical centers (VAMCs), 800 community-based outpatient clinics and numerous state-based domiciliaries and nursing home care units (About VA, 2016). As the second-largest cabinet agency in the federal government, the VA's budget exceeds the State Department, USAID, and the whole of the intelligence community combined) with more than $60 billion budgeted for VHA healthcare (Carter, 2016). One of the VHA's largest medical centers that provides tertiary healthcare services to eligible veteran patients is the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center (OKC VAMC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Like several other VAMCs, the OKC VAMC has recently been implicated in a system-wide scandal concerning inordinately lengthy patient waiting times and misdiagnoses which may have contributed to the deaths of some veteran patients and jeopardized…… [Read More]

Homeless veterans and the challenges

Homelessness Among Veterans

Among the social problems that have continuously bothered successive governments over the years. The problem is further compounded bearing that the veterans offered their best duty to the country when the need was most dire. As the years pass, as the US engages in one more war, veterans keep increasing and prospect for having more veterans will keep going up. The increase is astronomical for the homeless veterans. Currently at least 15% of the homeless population is consisted of the veterans. By 2008 there were approximately 135,000 homeless veterans tough this number is said to have reduced by 47% by 2016 (U.S. Department of Homeless Veterans, 2017).

Veterans are said to the prone to being homeless than other Americans by 50% due to poverty, poor support network and squalid living environments within overcrowded housing units. It is estimated that 1.5 million veterans are considered as at risk…… [Read More]

Positive Contributions by Veterans in the Construction Sector Essay

Statement of the Problem
The integration of veterans into different business sectors is not a novel idea. Numerous sectors and organizations have been dedicated to facilitating employment of veterans. In the construction sector, different institutions such as Veterans Build America and Hire Our Heroes have made significant strides towards this endeavor. Nonetheless, regardless of the presence of such institutions and assimilation programs for coupling veterans with jobs in the construction sector, measuring their effectiveness continues to be a significant challenge, largely owing to the lack of extensive research in the area. Furthermore, a lot of these programs have faced major difficulties such as lack of funding, which undercut their efficacy. Consequently, it is not guaranteed whether they have a positive contribution to the development of the labor force in the construction sector. 
Research Questions
1. What capabilities and talents can veterans bring to the construction sector?
2. What is the…… [Read More]

Community Outreach Program for Minority

Its main goals are to examine and evaluate the main areas requiring improvements. The technology transfer programs are the key information sources, which enables the veteran access the latest technologies that can lead to improvement of their livelihood standards. The veteran association other goal is to ensure automated and web-enabled activities. This will enable the association allow online submission of ids rather than uploads from emails hence reducing the usage of papers.

According to 2000 census, 12% of the U.S. population is African-American. This figure may be even less because there are some homeless and incarcerated who are not inclusive in the census report. The Africa American veterans mostly affected by depression though most of them believe is a personal weakness. They represent among the veterans who served in the homeless programs making about 11.4%of the veteran population. These veterans make up 35.1%of the homeless veteran population and 18.9%of the…… [Read More]

Leading Change

Leading Change

he Department of Veterans Affairs did not have an effort that was focused on protocol services despite the fact that they were a cabinet level organization. Because of this, the organization needed an effort that directly advised, assisted, and supported developmental activities for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and the Chief of Staff on not only official matters of national and international protocol, but also in planning, hosting, and officiating related events and activities for members of Congress, senior Veteran Service Organizations, diplomats, and visiting heads of state. During the first year of the 2001-2004 administration the lack of protocol was a definite challenge for the Department as it received visits from senior U.S. And foreign dignitaries to include the U.S. Vice President, and the Minister of Veterans Affairs for the Republic of Korea.

Since there were problems and challenges with some of the events that were put on…… [Read More]

Results Driven

Driven

Working for the Department of Veteran's Affairs means that I need to be able to get results. They are very important, and in 2002 I was asked to participate in a task force for the advancement and the employment of women. I led the subcommittee on researching best practices for the report. In doing this, I led focus groups, researched a great deal of relevant information, and created the best practices section for the final report. The VA was very pleased, and the report was accepted as a blueprint throughout the department. This occurred when the committee had been in existence for one year. Each member of the committee received an award for this, and my award was the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs Commendation for the effort that I displayed during this project.

In two different cabinet-level organizations, I have been involved with protocol and success on many levels.…… [Read More]

VA HR the Purpose of This Report

VA H

The purpose of this report is to accurately describe the systems and procedures at the Veterans Administration (VA). This report will fully analyze the history of legislation and court decisions that have implications to the agency's personnel management. Additionally this report will examine the major components of the agency's human resource system's goals and practices regarding hiring and recruitment practices. Finally the report will list recommendations that can improve the agency's success of recruiting and training a diversified workforce.

Laws Affecting the Agency

It is first important to examine the history of the VA itself before examining the more specific human resources department section of the Veterans Administration. According to the VA's website, the formation of this agency in the federal government has demonstrated the political views of this government towards the soldiers who fight the wars for this country. As a result of this relationship, laws, rules…… [Read More]

Managing an Effective Quality Assurance

eports from medical center services and committees concerning patient incidents are used to develop appropriate interventions.

Trended data of patient incidents can point to shift and date where most incidents occur.

Desired Outcome

A 50% reduction in the number medication errors of all types over the next 12 months.

Goals and Objectives to Facilitate Outcome

The overarching goal of this program would be to reduce the number of medication errors in general and among those wards/shifts with the highest numbers of medication errors over the past 12 months. The objectives in support of this goal include:

1. Developing awareness campaign materials such as locally prepared newsletter articles, posters and brochures concerning the goal to reduce medication errors.

2. Conduct a medication error theme seminar that provides basic guidelines for avoiding medication errors (the "5 Ps").

Translation of Goals and Objectives into Policies and Procedures

The above-described goals and objectives would…… [Read More]

Leading Change and Leading People

Leading Change and Leading People

For more than 20 years, I have been a leader in both the government and in the private business environment. This encompasses both work in the United States Army as a noncommissioned officer, and work in the civilian world within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Leading change requires a great deal of initiative and more than just having a vision for the future. This is an important lesson that I have learned through the experiences in my life and the work that I have done for myself and others throughout my career.

I have been fortunate enough to have been mentored by some very outstanding individuals during my career, and have been promoted 10 times to attain my current grade of GS-15, which indicates that I am able to lead both people and change, get support for programs, influence resources,…… [Read More]

Leading Change Protocol and GTU

Leading Change Continual Learning, Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, esilience, Service Motivation, Strategic Thinking, And Vision

The purpose of this report is to discuss the process of leading change as a core qualification and how it encompasses an ability to develop and implement an organizational vision that integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Even though the need for change is a concept that is recognized and acknowledged, instituting change and change policies is still a very difficult process and guaranteeing that a required change actually takes hold of the long-term is even more difficult a process to manage. In the 1995 book by John P. Kotter, professor of leadership at Harvard Business School showed that businesses often have many common errors when managing organizational change. For example, the Harvard report found organizations allowing far too much complacency, fail to create sufficient guiding coalitions, they…… [Read More]

Results Driven Principle and Task Force

Driven (Principi & Task Force)

pplication Essay: Results Driven

In the Department of Veterans ffairs where I work, getting results is highly valued. There are various examples that could be used to point out how important results are in this organization and how I go about ensuring that I get results when I am asked to do something. There are two examples that are important to discuss here. The first of these is the Farewell Ceremony that I took part in. In late 2004, I was directly asked by those high-up in my organization to plan and execute a Farewell Ceremony for the Honorable nthony J. Principi, the 4th Secretary of Veterans ffairs. This particular event took place at the Veterans conference center at the V headquarters located in Washington D.C. Many members of the President's Cabinet were leaving the administration at this time. The ceremony had a strong impact…… [Read More]

Leading People

Leading People

Being able to lead people is extremely important. I have been a leader in both the government and the private business environment for more than 20 years. Leadership experience that I have currently encompasses service to my nation as a non-commissioned officer in the United States rmy and as a senior civilian manager within the Department of Veterans ffairs of the Department of Defense. During the time that I have worked in these environments I have learned that leading a change initiative requires much more than simply envisioning the future. It requires staying on top of budgets, people, materials, vendors, and others, while at the same time ensuring that the necessary activities of the business on a day-to-day basis continue. In today's fast-paced and rapidly evolving environment, change is the norm. Before an organization can completely finish their adjustment to one change the same organization often gets hit…… [Read More]

How the VA in Using Value Based Purchasing to Improve Health Care

components of value-based purchasing (VBP) that are most pertinent to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on its vital mission to provide high-quality health care services to the nation's veterans while identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in ways that promote improved clinical outcomes in measurable ways. The study also describes the three departments of a VA medical center that will be most important in implementing VBP, purchasing services, nursing services, and ambulatory care services and provide appropriate goals for this purpose. Because the three selected departments are at different stages of their VBP implementations, the preparation needed to achieve their VBP-related goals will vary, but staff will need to be educated and trained concerning the basics of VBP and how they apply to their unique departmental situations and all three departments must develop appropriate performance measures that can be used to determine the cost-effectiveness of…… [Read More]

Leading People Protocol and Uop

Leading People, Leveraging Diversity, Integrity/Honesty and Team Building

I have been a leader in various aspects of both governmental and private sector business environments for over two decades. If there is one thing that I feel I truly understand, it is the fact that leadership is a core qualification that entails having an ability to design and also implement viable strategies in the face of adversity that maximizes the potential of each and every individual within an organization. Leadership also is a powerful tool that, if used properly, can foster a system of ethical behavior and also to help all aspects of an organization to reach their vision, mission, and/or goals. A dictionary may term the definition of leadership simply as guidance or direction, but that takes away from a true capacity to lead. Leadership requires a plethora of skills and foundations of knowledge and a desire to utilize these…… [Read More]

Why the VA Should Be Privatized

cabinet-level agency in the U.S. government termed "Agency X" herein is the largest healthcare provider in the nation. With a multi-billion dollar budget, virtually universal support from the American public and a national network of healthcare facilities, Agency X should be well situated to achieve its mission to "care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan." Unfortunately, on far too many occasions, Agency X has failed to deliver the high quality health care services the nation's veterans deserve and hundreds if not thousands have died as a result. In order to gain a better understanding of these failures, this paper reviews the relevant literature to provide an analysis of the ethical and social issues faced by Agency X and its administrators, followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning ethics and social justice at this organization in the conclusion.…… [Read More]

Balanced Scorecard and the Financial Perspective

organization: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

What this organization does -- its mission, vision and overall strategy:

The mission of the VA is taken from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address which is to "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, his widow and his orphans."

Vision: The VA states that, "The President's vision for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to transform VA into a 21st Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-driven, and forward-looking" (Annual budget submission, 2013, para. 2).

Overall Strategy: The VA Secretary, Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, states that the VA "will not compromise the safety, security, or well-being of Veterans or our employees, but we must scrutinize every event, initiative, program, and proposal to assure that each is absolutely essential and will produce positive, measurable, returns to the accomplishment of our mission" (2013). The VA's current priorities are to:

Expand access for veterans.

2.…… [Read More]

Roles of a Clinical Dietician

In an acute care setting, such Veterans Affairs, this objective is executed by educating patients about how to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle after the leave the facility, while in a long-term care setting-such as Cobble Hill-this objective is executed on a daily basis by providing nutritious meals for elderly residents. And finally, in an ambulatory, out-patient care setting-such as Atlantic -- the clinical nutritionist works to support patients in maintaining a diet that addresses their personal healthcare needs, while still living independently within a larger community. Perhaps the most significant similarity between facilities is the notion of nutrition as merely one component of a comprehensive care program; hence the necessity of a clinical nutritional to work in conjunction with a full medical, administrative, and social support staff. The apparent goal of such an approach is to promote multiple aspects of health and well-being among patients, regardless setting or…… [Read More]

TBI and PTSD

Anthropologist working with the VA

Definitions / Interests / Key Problems and Issues

Previous Work Performed by Anthropologists in this Area

The Employment Situation, Current Salaries and Opportunities for Advancement

ibliography of the most important books, chapters and articles

Relevant professional organizations, ethics statements and newsletters

Names / locations of PAs and others working in the content area locally and elsewhere.

Relevant Laws and Regulations

Relevant international / domestic organizations, private and public

Other helpful information you think about on your own

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had a dramatic impact on the way someone sees themselves and the world around them. This is because many veterans have been forced to serve multiple tours and are still dealing with the lasting experiences from them. Two of primary injuries most are suffering from are post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TI). Anthropologists are seeking to understand the…… [Read More]

Two Essays About Healthcare Law and Insurance

Laws invariably impact scope of care and scope of practice. Many scope of care-related laws are designed to protect the interest of patients and/or consumers. Similar to jurisdiction debates in law enforcement, scope of care issues in healthcare highlight the ways each professional dimension or area of specialization is bounded by "turf battles," even when those battles may adversely impact quality of care (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2009). Complicating the matter are recent developments in healthcare law, which constrain unethical practices but which might also inadvertently impinge upon legitimate healthcare work. Scope of practice changes should ideally reflect evidence-based practice.

Often the primary beneficiary of scope of care laws are institutions, which avoid needless lawsuits. Primary care services that change as the result of scope of practice legal changes may have positive economic impacts on healthcare institutions. On the other hand, laws that unnecessarily prevent quality of…… [Read More]

Fourteen Forces of Magnetism and

Force 12: Image of Nursing. The VA recognizes the importance of individual care to the perception of quality healthcare in its facilities. Even if the entire organization operates in an effective and compassionate manner, if the nurse that cares for a patient fails to deliver on this level of care, the individual perception of nursing care will be diminished. To this end, the organization's nursing fact sheet proclaims, "VA Nursing Service is dedicated to promoting optimal health, patient safety, quality health care, and the highest professional standards, in order to ensure that our veterans receive the best possible care and that our staff work in the best possible health care system" (VA Nursing Service, 2005).

Force 13: Interdisciplinary elationships. The VA's Web page, "VA & Experienced Professionals" (2008) states, "Our doctors, physician assistants, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other professionals work together in an interdisciplinary care team structure" (p. 3).

Force…… [Read More]

Human Resource Strategy Recommendations of Company Chosen

Human esource Development Initiatives for the Department of Veterans Affairs

As the nation's largest healthcare provider and second-largest federal agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for administering a multi-billion dollar budget in support of the nation's heroic veterans. The VA fulfills its mandate to care for veterans and their families through a nationwide network of medical centers, outpatient facilities, Vet Centers and domiciliaries that provide the entire spectrum of medical, surgical and rehabilitation healthcare services. Given the importance of its mandate and scope of its budget, the VA is well situated to take advantage of a wide range of human resource initiatives that can save money, improve organizational performance and the quality of healthcare provided to the country's veteran population. This study defines five such human resources initiatives and describes how they can be applied to achieve these goals. A summary of the recommendations and their potential…… [Read More]

Public Agencies Interaction With the

They are not considered state or local. Also, they are not legislative or judicial actions (Hall 2006).

According to their organizational chart, the Department of Veterans Affairs has many layers between the overseeing authority of Executive Power and the administration of policy demonstrated at the local level (Department of Veterans Affairs 2006). Many areas of Veterans Affairs apply to the health of veterans. However, health care for veterans is most directly authorized and managed by the Under Secretary for Health under the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs 2006). Since the Department of Veterans Affairs is managed under the executive branch of government, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is appointed by the President of the United States (Hall 2006).

eferences

Department of Veterans Affairs. (2006). VA Organization Chart. etrieved January 12, 2007 at http://www.va.gov/about_va/

Hall, D.E. (2006). Administrative law: Bureaucracy in a…… [Read More]

Policy Brief Regarded VA Health Care

H..1247 -- Improving Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015

The Improving Veterans Access to Care Act (H..1247) sponsored by epresentatives Sam Graves (-MO) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) (hereinafter alternatively "the Act"), is intended to reduce existing delays in healthcare delivery being experienced by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (Smith, 2015). The provisions of the Act would extend full practice authority to certain advanced practice registered nurses (APNs), including nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and certified registered nurse anesthetists in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities regardless of the state in which they are located. To date, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), the Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists (AVANA), more than 50 nursing organizations, as well as veterans service organizations, the Military Officers Association of America, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the American Association of etired Persons (AAP) together with more than…… [Read More]

PTSD Comparative Study of Post

Furthermore, the severity of the initial condition cannot be determined in relation to long-term affects.

VA clinics are the best source of information pertaining to older veterans and PTSD. It is not known where all veterans of previous wars are at the current time, but VA does have scattered statistics on older veterans. According to VA WWII veterans received a hero's welcome home, as opposed to Vietnam Veterans who were the targets of an angry public (National Center for PTSD, 2007b). The welcome that they received had a tremendous affect on the ability to cope and recover from the traumas associated with war. According to VA, the affects of PTSD on older veterans is often more subtle than in Vietnam Veterans or those from more recent conflicts. For instance, the older veteran may experience irrational fears, which can later be traced to trigger memories related to the war. Therefore, there…… [Read More]

Organizational Behavior Since Long the Necessity for

Organizational Behavior

Since long the necessity for quality health care for veterans is considered to be a critical issue with widespread implications in respect of health care system of the nation. Irrespective of the incessant pressure on converting the Veteran Administration into a business model it has been alleged vehemently on the ground that the approach is not conducive to the satisfaction of most veterans, the legislators and even the providers of the health care. The problem of extending acceptable quality health care for the veterans of the nation is to be resolved by constituting public consensus on the issue. Irrespective of its increasing challenges it is believed that the provision of quality health care for the veterans of the nation is considered to be an appropriate objective for this country to maintain. Acknowledging the sacrifices of the veterans, the death of millions of Americans in service, 1.5 million returning…… [Read More]

CBT and PTSD

CT and PTSD

PTSD has been found in this study to be a problem for returning wartime veterans in the armed forces and this problem has presented challenges for practitioners. PTSD is differentiated from other clinical problems such as depression and presents with various symptoms following having been exposed to trauma. PTSD is an ongoing problem for veterans and treatment options examined in this study include the cognitive behavioral approach to treatment. Cognitive conditions in regards to mental health of veterans is noted in this study to be a problem and to be an increasing challenge in treatment since it is elevated among women veterans due to prolonged exposure to stressors. Supportive intervention has been examined as one possible behavioral therapy in this study and noted to be particularly effective in treating female veterans and active duty personnel.

Cognitive restructuring methods have been examined for use in treating PTSD in…… [Read More]

Social Justice

The form of oppression and discrimination discussed in Unit 2 is mental health problems among veteran are further compounded by other problems such as financial difficulties, joblessness, marriage problems, social isolation, and homelessness (Smith et al., 2017). These problems are major risk factors for suicide and substance abuse. The federal policy from the Library of Congress that relates to this social justice is the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Include a description of the programs and services that are provided through the policy. What is the purpose of this policy? What problem does it seek to remedy?

The Affordable Care Act is also referred to as the health care law and was established with the main purpose of providing more Americans with greater accessibility to affordable health insurance, enhancing the quality of health care and health insurance, and also diminishing health care spending in the in the United States. Basically, its main…… [Read More]

Discrimination and Affirmative Action Should

In order to assure that workforce advancement for existing disabled veterans is according to federal guidelines, the Bonneville "action program plan" offers classes and training in "resume writing" and "how to prepare for an interview." Each employee, including disabled veterans, are encouraged to complete an individual development plan with their manager, and are also encouraged to utilize career counselors with their departments.

All these things are mentioned because it is apparent that the federal government has gone to great lengths to open the door for disabled veterans. That doesn't mean, again, that any job opening with a federal agency or a contractor who has been hired by the federal government will automatically go to a disabled veteran. Not at all.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has its own version of an "Affirmative Action Program Plan for Disabled Veterans" (www.usda.gov/da/employ/VETPLAN.01.htm);this is very similar to the Bonneville plan, only it appears that…… [Read More]

Discrimination and Affirmative Action

Discrimination and Affirmative Action

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prohibits private and state and local government employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability. Title I of the ADA also generally requires covered employers to make reasonable accommodations -- changes in the workplace or in the way things are usually done that provide individuals with disabilities equal employment opportunities." (U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, 2008) In order to meet the ADA's definition of disability the individual must have a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. This definition of disability may differ from the definition used in other laws. For example, the term "disabled veteran" means an individual…… [Read More]

Project Proposal Implementation

iPads for PTSD

There is a high incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States' all-volunteer forces have been engaged in combat for ten years and many military members have completed multiple tours. Some individuals are more susceptible than others (Corbett, 2002). Although sufferers of PTSD are in the minority of those returning from war zones, numbers are still sufficiently high to tax the military's health care system. There are simply not enough mental health professionals to meet the need.

Online counseling and special PTSD apps for smart phones and tablet computers have been demonstrated as effective solutions, at least in part. Military officials stress that neither online counseling nor apps replace one-on-one treatment in a clinical care setting. However, they can be beneficial to sufferers and provide some intermediate relief until actual treatment can be provided.

Project Proposal…… [Read More]

Improving Group Productivity the National Call Center

Improving Group Productivity

The National Call Center for the Veteran's Administration (VA) Education Department employs over 700 people, which can be called upon to answer incoming calls from veterans. Within the four regional offices, there are employees of various positions, including Case Managers, Educational Liaison Representatives, application processors, and leaders who verify compliance, productivity, etc. With all employees being called upon to answer incoming calls, each employee needs to be aware of changes on an immediate basis, which can incorporate over 50 changes on a given day. As a result of work demands on all employees in different roles of the organizational structure, adequate training programs are of extreme importance in ensuring employees are properly trained, contain clear definitions of expectations in the various roles, and support teamwork within the groups to provide for efficiency in operations as well as performance goals and objectives.

A key component to the process…… [Read More]

Break Out of War in Afghanistan and

break out of war in Afghanistan and Iraq propelled alarming forecasts about its most likely psychiatric effects. he chief of recuperation or readjustment therapy services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) asserted that as high as 30% of soldiers deployed to Iraq may establish posttraumatic tension ailment (PSD) (Dentzer, 2003), a disorder that can arise following experience of gruesome, dangerous occasions, such as battle, natural catastrophes, and rape. PSD patients do not simply remember their injury; they reexperience it as vibrant sensory recollections (flashbacks), horror stories, and invasive ideas. hey feel reduced or small and mentally detached from the family, friends and loved ones, yet likewise stressful, cranky, and hyper-vigilant as if risk were permanently present.

Psychiatry ratified the PSD medical diagnosis in 1980, mainly in feedback to the belated awareness of its signs in Vietnam veterans whose troubles had actually long been improperly comprehended and dealt with. Undoubtedly,…… [Read More]

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

g., when there are deaths of several soldiers or emergency workers of a unit). Combat is a stressor that is associated with a relatively high risk of PTSD, and those interventions that can potentially diminish this risk are very important. But what is not clear in the above is how much the debriefing provided is more a form of stress management for the ?critical incidents? that are very much part of warfare, as opposed to interventions for those psycho- logically traumatized and at risk of PTSD. People in the military are exposed to stressors other than combat, and these may be traumatic (Atwater, 2009). eports of soldiers who were involved in body recovery in the Gulf War provide important insights. This is a high-stress situation, linked to vulnerability to posttraumatic morbidity.

Asnis, et al. (2004) reported that soldiers of one group who had been debriefed were compared with another, which,…… [Read More]

Budgetary Politics

udgetary Politics

The United States of America has long grappled with the problem of drugs and has form time to time initiated measures to combat the usage and trafficking of drugs. It is common knowledge that the various wars that have been part of the combat program of several administrations have failed miserably despite the availability of a great deal of resources, added to the colossal funding process. This is in addition to the numerous governmental agencies that operate to curb the drug trade and trafficking. Though the threat of drug usage and illegal trade is looming large, the danger is not always as proportionate as it is painted.

A certain amount of exaggeration that goes along factual details so as to create a sense of grave emergency that would work out to political benefits. ut it cannot also be regarded that the threat of drugs and their usage is…… [Read More]

Vista Would Be Useful and

VISTA helps eliminate lengthy delays for treatment, a way that all health care providers can stand to benefit from.

'Question 4

VISTA is the best known and most heavily practiced system of its type. This does not mean competing software or architecture is unavailable. Kaiser Permanente's Health Connect system is beginning to play a major role in how medicine is practiced. According to its website, "KP HealthConnect provides care teams with access to patient information and the latest best practices all in one place to further enhance patient safety and quality care while increasing convenience and coordination. The comprehensive health information system securely connects more than 8.6 million people to their physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, personal information, and the latest medical knowledge."

As long as the medical industry is a profitable one, than competing health managing software systems should be able to compete for business. In a better world however,…… [Read More]

Housing for the Mentally Ill

" (Finnerty, 2008) It is reported that those who suffer from co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems are also likely to be homeless. According to the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network (2000) "Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse makes it more likely that people will be chronically homeless." (cited in Finnerty, 2008) Factors that are known to contribute to homelessness in those with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse include factors such as: (1) Financial problems; (2) Loss of family support; (3) Severity of symptoms; and (4) Time spent in institutions such as jails or hospitals. (runette, Mueser and Drake, 2004 in: Finnerty, 2008) Padgett and Struening (1991) state that substance abuse and mental disorders "…increase the health care needs of homeless persons, whose primary source of care is often the emergency room.

The work of Padgett et al. (2006) reports having interviewed a group of women…… [Read More]

HIV and AIDS

AIDS is a condition brought about by HIV. It results during the advanced stages of an HIV infection when an individual's immune system becomes so weak it can't fend off infections from the body. The body becomes a target of various infections which if left untreated can lead to death of the infected person. No cure has been found to cure AIDS. Nonetheless, with good support and treatment, an infected person can live with HIV for a long time. For a healthy long life after infection, the right treatment should be taken correctly and side effects of treatment addressed promptly.

Basic Facts about AIDS

AIDS is an acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The syndrome can also be referred to as late-stage HIV or advanced HIV infection. Someone suffering from AIDS may contract several conditions like thrush, TB, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis and pneumonia. An individual's risk of developing some chronic conditions…… [Read More]

Picture Archive Communication Systems PACS

This RIS includes Toshiba digital desktop telephones, plus 24 SpectraLink wireless telephones; these wireless phones were programmed to extend the features and capabilities of the users' desktop telephones to anywhere they roam at the 22-bed hospital; however, other wireless technologies such as cellular, could not be used due to the interference with sensitive medical equipment (Just the right prescription 24). The hospital's chief operating officer, Darryl Thornton, reported, "Being able to be mobile, yet still receive all our telephone calls, has greatly improved our efficiency and productivity. Toshiba's SpectraLink solution was the only one we found that would extend our desktop telephones to the palms of our hands" (Just the right prescription 24). The RIS also accommodated the needs of the hospital's remote users: "The system is so flexible that we were able to connect our remote users and still have it look like they are located at our corporate…… [Read More]

Women Abuse of Women A

, 1994)." (Salazar, 253) This is not just troubling as a statistical illustrator of the problem's prevalence but it is indicative of a much larger cultural condition predisposing us to violence toward women. ith ties to the patriarchal machinations of the country's monarchical origins and a dependency upon the fortification of such leanings in modern legal, social and even familial structure, the issue of domestic violence is very much a result of a long-standing and still present heritage of sexism. As we contend with the apparent root causes of domestic violence by helping women find ways out of negative relationships, we are yet contending with a more deep-seeded impulse toward misogyny and violence.

The rationale for further study on this subject will be to provide those in social services, outreach programs and other positions of counsel with the understanding of this problem to address and navigate the correlation and cycle…… [Read More]

Military Retirees Are Entitled to

First of all only a scant few of these Veterans groups will acknowledge the "promise" of free health care; for the most part these groups will tout the benefits already promised by the Veterans Administration and assert that cuts in these benefits are the same a broken promise-or contractual breach in legal terms. The idea of the United States military making a "promise" or forging a legally binding agreement between individual veterans or groups of veterans is barred by the United States Constitution. As will be demonstrated in the Literature eview, specific Constitutional language from Article I give Congress and only Congress the express authority to make laws and regulations pertaining to the armed forces. Therefore, the idea the military breached a contract with service members is, ultimately, inherently inaccurate. Combining the lack of specific language within the materials provided by any governmental agency with the clear language of the…… [Read More]

VHA Managerial Challenge

VHA Managerial Challenge

In recent years, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has experienced a great deal of challenges ranging from lack of accountability and lack of employee apprehension to mismanagement of finances. In particular, a key managerial challenge that the VA faces today is the lack of timely provision of health care to veterans across the nation. Increased wait times at the various VA medical facilities are a key hindrance to obtaining timely medical health care. These protracted wait times have led to hindered accessibility to health care, which causes severe and abrupt occurrences, disability and death of the patients. There is need to assimilate financial and operational decision making to efficaciously meet this challenge and enhance organizational performance. This is because the agency caters to more than six million patients who require health care and benefits. To begin with, there is need to provide funds to employ…… [Read More]