Problems at VA Philadelphia Medical Center Prostate Center
Problems at VA Philadelphia Medical Center Prostate Center
Washington, DC
July 1, 2009
PHILADELPHIA -- A radiation oncologist is fighting accusations he botched dozens of prostate surgeries at a Veterans Administration hospital in Philadelphia.
For further details click on:
http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm ... 0e8b1d8b3d
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/healt ... erans.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01882.html
Washington, DC
July 1, 2009
PHILADELPHIA -- A radiation oncologist is fighting accusations he botched dozens of prostate surgeries at a Veterans Administration hospital in Philadelphia.
For further details click on:
http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm ... 0e8b1d8b3d
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/healt ... erans.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01882.html
Congressional Hill Hearings
Upcoming Congressional Hill Hearings•
Washington DC
• The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on June 10, 2009, to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs' construction process.
• The House Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on June 16, 2009, to examine how VA patients in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. may have been put at risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious body fluids and what steps have been taken to prevent future incidents.
• The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on June 24, 2009, to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs quality management activities.
for more information go to:
http://veterans.house.gov/
http://veterans.house.gov/schedule/
http://veterans.house.gov/health/
http://veterans.house.gov/oversight/
http://www.senate.gov/ ... Continue to Full Story
Washington DC
• The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on June 10, 2009, to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs' construction process.
• The House Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on June 16, 2009, to examine how VA patients in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. may have been put at risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious body fluids and what steps have been taken to prevent future incidents.
• The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on June 24, 2009, to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs quality management activities.
for more information go to:
http://veterans.house.gov/
http://veterans.house.gov/schedule/
http://veterans.house.gov/health/
http://veterans.house.gov/oversight/
http://www.senate.gov/ ... Continue to Full Story
The President’s 2010 Budget
President Obama's Budget Request Includes $112.8 B for Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington May 10, 2009
$112.8 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, about $15.1 billion more than this year, of which $47.4 billion in discretionary spending would be made available for veterans' medical care.
•2010 Budget: $112.8 billion (total including collections) – $55.9 billion in discretionary funding (including collections) and $56.9 billion in mandatory funding
•Enacted 2009: $97.7 billion (total including collections) - $50.4 billion in discretionary funding (including collections, not including ARRA funds) and $47.3 billion in mandatory funding
The Fiscal Year 2010 budget increases funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs by $25 billion over the next five years. The budget includes an 11 percent increase in resources for a discretionary funding level of $55.9 billion. The budget increases health care funding to 5.5 million veterans, develop Centers of Excellence, and enhance access to mental health and cognitive care.
It also restores health care eligibility for modest-income veterans, steps up investment in technology for the delivery of services and benefits to veterans, and provides improved benefits for veterans who are medically retired from active duty.
The budget provides for a collaborative pilot program with non-profit organizations to help veterans avoid homelessness, and for the timely implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to Americans who have served the country though military duty.
For more information got to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_de ... _veterans/
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1671 ... Continue to Full Story
Washington May 10, 2009
$112.8 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, about $15.1 billion more than this year, of which $47.4 billion in discretionary spending would be made available for veterans' medical care.
•2010 Budget: $112.8 billion (total including collections) – $55.9 billion in discretionary funding (including collections) and $56.9 billion in mandatory funding
•Enacted 2009: $97.7 billion (total including collections) - $50.4 billion in discretionary funding (including collections, not including ARRA funds) and $47.3 billion in mandatory funding
The Fiscal Year 2010 budget increases funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs by $25 billion over the next five years. The budget includes an 11 percent increase in resources for a discretionary funding level of $55.9 billion. The budget increases health care funding to 5.5 million veterans, develop Centers of Excellence, and enhance access to mental health and cognitive care.
It also restores health care eligibility for modest-income veterans, steps up investment in technology for the delivery of services and benefits to veterans, and provides improved benefits for veterans who are medically retired from active duty.
The budget provides for a collaborative pilot program with non-profit organizations to help veterans avoid homelessness, and for the timely implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to Americans who have served the country though military duty.
For more information got to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_de ... _veterans/
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1671 ... Continue to Full Story
VA Recognizes Shirley Meehan, PhD.
An Outstanding Career in Health Services
Washington, DC April 22, 2009
Dr. Shirley Meehan accepts VA's Exemplary Service Award from Under Secretary for Health Michael Kussman, MD.
VA's Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) will lose one of its most dedicated leaders: Shirley Meehan, MBA, PhD, Deputy Director of HSR&D. Dr. Meehan will retire after 38 years of service to VA. For the full story on the career of Dr. Meehan go to:
http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publica ... efs/apr09/
Washington, DC April 22, 2009
Dr. Shirley Meehan accepts VA's Exemplary Service Award from Under Secretary for Health Michael Kussman, MD.
VA's Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) will lose one of its most dedicated leaders: Shirley Meehan, MBA, PhD, Deputy Director of HSR&D. Dr. Meehan will retire after 38 years of service to VA. For the full story on the career of Dr. Meehan go to:
http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publica ... efs/apr09/
Endoscopy Concerns for the VA
VA Continues Endoscopic Procedure Notification for Veterans
Washington, DC
April 18, 2009
On December 1, 2008, VA’s Tennessee Health Care System identified a problem related to the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment. Following a review of the issue, VA notified patients to get tested for possible infections that have a low risk of occurring as a result of these improper processing of endoscopy equipment.
Subsequently, all VA facilities were required to review their processes to ensure they are in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions. These reviews identified significant reprocessing issues at the Augusta VA Medical Center and at the Miami VA Medical Center.
Patients who may have been exposed to cross contamination were patients that received endoscopic procedures at the:
• Murfreesboro GI Clinic from April 2003 to December 2008
• Augusta ENT Clinic from January 2008 to November 2008
• Miami GI Clinic from May 2004 to March 2009
The positive tests are not necessarily linked to any endoscopy issues and the evaluation continues. The VA is continuing to notify individuals whose letters have been returned as undeliverable, and working with homeless coordinators to reach veterans with no known home address.
While medical reviews indicate that the transmission of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus as a result of endoscopy procedures is extremely rare; transmission of HIV through endoscopy has not yet been confirmed.
For more information:
http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/endoscopic_notification.asp
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1661 ... Continue to Full Story
Washington, DC
April 18, 2009
On December 1, 2008, VA’s Tennessee Health Care System identified a problem related to the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment. Following a review of the issue, VA notified patients to get tested for possible infections that have a low risk of occurring as a result of these improper processing of endoscopy equipment.
Subsequently, all VA facilities were required to review their processes to ensure they are in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions. These reviews identified significant reprocessing issues at the Augusta VA Medical Center and at the Miami VA Medical Center.
Patients who may have been exposed to cross contamination were patients that received endoscopic procedures at the:
• Murfreesboro GI Clinic from April 2003 to December 2008
• Augusta ENT Clinic from January 2008 to November 2008
• Miami GI Clinic from May 2004 to March 2009
The positive tests are not necessarily linked to any endoscopy issues and the evaluation continues. The VA is continuing to notify individuals whose letters have been returned as undeliverable, and working with homeless coordinators to reach veterans with no known home address.
While medical reviews indicate that the transmission of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus as a result of endoscopy procedures is extremely rare; transmission of HIV through endoscopy has not yet been confirmed.
For more information:
http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/endoscopic_notification.asp
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1661 ... Continue to Full Story
by sspagnolo | Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 11:37 AM
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