The Grapevine an Award Winning Nonprofit Publication Dedicated to the Heroes of America – Our Veterans and Their Families
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VFW Post 4252 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION 3190 North Carl G. Rose Highway U. S. POSTAGE Volume 19 Issue 3 Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori May - June 2017 PAID Hernando, FL 34462 HERNANDO, FLORIDA PERMIT #1 The Grapevine www.veteransgrapevine.com An Award Winning Nonprofit Publication Dedicated to the Heroes of America – Our Veterans and Their Families Dr. David J. Shulkin sworn in as VA Secretary Find the Devil – Root Cause Analysis A closer look at the various causes that have influenced the care delivery and overall efficiency of the Veterans Health System can be summarized in the diagram below (Source: Inefficiencies in Veterans Health System: An Explorative Analysis, healthcarereformmagazine.com, 2014 article by Varun Bahl and J. P. Pattanaik). Dr. Shulkin, it is time to fix the system! The Grapevine Managing Editor – John Stewart S. No Factors Impact Most of the causes which have a impacted Veterans Email: [email protected] 1 Man (Human Resources) High Health System do revolve around Methods and the Hu- 2 Machine (IT, Medical Equipments) Moderate man Resources. Inefficient methods and practices cou- Mailed to Veterans at Home Read Online by Veterans around the World 3 Money (Budget, Funding) Moderate pled with causes related to human resources have com- 4 Methods (Policy, Internal Process) High pletely derailed the Veterans Health System. However, Sponsored by Patriotic Private Citizens 5 Materials (Supplies) Low factors like age old IT systems (MACHINE), VA budget and Local Business Leaders 6 Facilities (Infrastructure) Moderate cut (MONEY) can not be ignored. from our Surrounding Communities The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level sta- tus. It is the United States government’s fourth largest department, after the United States Department of Defense, the Department of www.veteransgrapevine.com Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. With a total 2013 budget of about $78.4 billion, VA employs nearly 312,841 people at hundreds of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, clinics and benefits offices and is responsible for administering ...and his Hero programs for veterans, their families and survivors. They currently manage over 1700 healthcare facilities across the country. A Hero Remembered Presumptive Conditions Veterans with PTSD in the Justice System sell's report, there was a 0% recidivism rate among Veterans who had completed the program. US Marine Corps First Lieutenant Wesley Lee Fox received the A "condition", in the language of the VA, is any disease, ill- In recent years, programs have been developed to avoid unnec- Veterans Justice Outreach Medal of Honor for his actions on February 22, 1969 as a twice ness or injury that occurs during active duty military service. essary incarceration of Veterans who have deployed to war and wounded and the only officer remaining to lead his company, he To be service connected and eligible for a disability subsequently developed mental health problems. The programs To provide direct services to justice-involved Veterans, whether refused medical treatment for his own injuries to supervise the compensation rating, the condition must be caused or contrib- aim to assist Veterans who become involved in the justice sys- or not they live in a community that has a Veterans Treatment preparation of his wounded men for evacuation. uted to by an event that occurred during service. If the condi- tem to get treatment for mental health problems that may exist. Court, VA has developed the Veterans Justice Outreach initia- tion existed prior to service, it must be shown to These programs are especially needed given the numbers of tive (VJO). VA is committed to the principle that when mental Then 1st Lt. Fox was have been aggravated (made worse) by military service. Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. illness plays a role in non-violent crimes committed by Veter- assigned to Company A, ans, both the Veteran and the community are better served by 1st Battalion, 9th Ma- To achieve a disability compensation rating, the veteran must Veterans Treatment Court treating the Veteran's mental illness rather than incarcerating rines, 3d Marine Division prove that he or she had appropriate military service, that an him or her (5-6). Under VJO, each VA Medical Center has a during the Vietnam War. event that caused the claimed condition occurred In 2008 the Center for Mental Health Service of the US Sub- designated justice outreach specialist. VJO specialists function A veteran of combat in and that a medically diagnosed condition that is disabling stance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a link between VA, Veterans, and the local justice system. Korea and Vietnam, he exists today. (SAMHSA) convened a conference with the goal of looking at They serve both incarcerated Veterans and justice-involved Vet- held every Marine Corps ways to decrease the involvement of Veterans with the justice erans who have not been incarcerated. enlisted rank except Ser- The regulations that govern presumptive conditions only system and to provide them with mental health treatment. The geant Major and every eliminate the requirement to prove that an event caused the conference was attended by representatives from law enforce- VJO staff work with the courts to help eligible justice-involved officer rank except Gen- condition. For example, a Vietnam veteran does not have ment, corrections, the courts, community organizations, Federal Veterans get mental health assessment, treatment planning, and eral. He is one of 75 liv- to prove that agent orange caused the diabetes he has today. It agencies, and Veterans' health and advocacy organizations. Out referrals to VA services. Specialists communicate with officers ing Medal of Honor re- is presumed that he was exposed to agent orange and also of this forum emerged recommendations for a Veterans Treat- of the court about Veterans' compliance with VA treatment pro- cipients. that agent orange is at the root of the diabetes. While agent ment Court (1). grams, and they may also assist in training law enforcement per- orange and the Vietnam veteran are the best known of all sonnel on issues such as PTSD or traumatic brain injury. During Operation Dewey presumptive conditions and ratings, atomic veterans, certain Veterans Treatment Courts are based on the Drug Court and Canyon in Quang Tri Korean veterans and other veterans may also be eligible for Mental Health Court models introduced in the 1990s (2). As in Conclusion Province, 1st Lt. Fox’s presumptive ratings of certain conditions. these models, the goal is to divert those with mental health is- company came under sues from the traditional justice system and to give them treat- Efforts such as Veterans Treatment Courts and the VA's Veter- intense fire from a large The regulations are complex. Some veterans who have a Vi- ment and tools for rehabilitation and readjustment. While each ans Justice Outreach initiative may prove helpful to Veterans and well concealed ene- etnam Service Medal aren't eligible for presumptive ratings Veterans Treatment Court is part of a community's justice sys- who become involved in the justice system. The goal of these my force. He maneuvered to a position from which he could assess because they didn't set their boots on the soil of the coun- tem, treatment courts often form partnerships with VA and with programs is to divert eligible Veterans from the traditional legal the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed try of Vietnam. Many Korean veterans don't realize that they Veterans' organizations. Since the first Veterans Treatment system and to make sure they get needed treatment and support. to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked. First Lt. may be eligible for service connections due to exposure to the Court was established in 2008, the number of courts has been This is important for all Veterans, including those returning Fox was wounded, as were all of the other members of the com- herbicide agent orange. growing fast. By August, 2010, there were 41 Veterans Treat- from Iraq and Afghanistan, who may be in need of treatment for mand group except the executive officer. ment Courts in the United States (2). PTSD or other mental health problems. If you believe that you may be eligible for any presumptive First Lt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company, ad- condition and rating, the best wayto find out is to file a VA How does a Veterans Treatment Court work? vancing through heavy enemy fire to personally neutralize one disability claim. The process of adjudication is the only sure enemy position and directing his company to destroy others. He way to know. One example of how a Veterans Treatment Court works is the moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support court in Tulsa, OK (3). When a Veteran is arrested, police offic- with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mor- ers ask whether the detainee is a Veteran. If so, the Veteran's tally wounded, 1st Lt. Fox reorganized the company and directed eligibility for Veterans Treatment Court and for VA benefits is the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and determined. Only Veterans charged with non-violent crimes drove them into retreat. Wounded again in this final assault, he who are in need of mental health or substance abuse treatment refused medical attention, established a defensive posture and su- are eligible for treatment court. pervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His actions inspired his Marines to overcome the fierce enemy A Veteran's participation in treatment court is voluntary. Veter- resistance and destroy a large bunker complex. ans who choose to participate are assessed by a mental health professional, and their treatment needs are determined.