Podcasts about va office

Each month, the VA Office of Inspector General publishes highlights of our investigative work, congressional testimony, and oversight reports. In March 2025, the VA OIG published 17 reports that included 101 recommendations. Report topics varied from a review of VHA and VBA fiscal year 2024 supplemental funding requests and mental healthcare services at a Massachusetts' VA medical center to a review of the veteran self-scheduling process for community care and supply and equipment management deficiencies at a Texas VA medical center. VA OIG investigations led to the sentencing of a pharmacy operator who conspired with various doctors to charge government agencies for medically unnecessary compound prescriptions, pain creams, scar gels, and multivitamins primarily to patients covered under the Office of Workers' Compensation Program. Elsewhere, a government subcontractor was sentenced to 12 months' probation and ordered to pay restitution of more than $493,000 after previously pleading guilty to bank fraud. The company fraudulently obtained a Small Business Administration-backed Paycheck Protection Program loan. The company's owner also agreed to pay more than $1.1 million as part of a civil settlement to resolve his own civil liability.  This latest podcast episode of Veteran Oversight Now highlights the VA OIG's oversight work from March 2025, including four healthcare facility inspections reports on facilities in Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington, DC.  Related Reports: The Causes and Conditions That Led to a $12 Billion Supplemental Funding Request Review of VA's $2.9 Billion Supplemental Funds Request for FY 2024 to Support Veterans' Benefits Payments Inadequate Governance Structure and Identification of Chief Mental Health Officers' Responsibilities  

In this latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, we're revisiting a highly downloaded episode from February 2024—Unpaid Postage Bill Delays Critical Cancer Screenings. Hear from a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director, who discusses delays in the receipt of patients' colorectal cancer screening tests due to an unpaid postage bill by the Phoenix VA Health Care System in Arizona. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from September 2024. “The VISN actually led a stand-down at the facility to retrain all of the laboratory staff about the test, about the assessing of the test and processing it. And then they also passed all of that information to all of the other facilities within VISN 22. So, it wasn't just Phoenix, you know, they made sure all of the facilities in VISN 22 had the same information and the same knowledge. So, to follow that up, they're doing weekly audits and checking to make sure that the logging process is being done correctly. And so far, the reported compliance has been 100 percent.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director

In this powerful episode of America's Heroes Group, Dr. Matthew Miller, Executive Director of the VA Office of Suicide Prevention, joins Jenn Wagman to discuss critical issues facing veterans today. From understanding the latest trends in veteran suicide rates to exploring the VA's groundbreaking initiatives, Dr. Miller provides insights into how his office is committed to addressing veteran mental health. They dive deep into campaigns like "Don't Wait, Reach Out," and innovative partnerships with organizations and media to spread awareness and connect veterans with essential resources. Tune in to hear how the VA is making strides in preventing veteran suicide and supporting mental well-being.

In this latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, we're revisiting a highly downloaded episode from April 2024—Veteran Dies Following Delay in “Code Blue” Alert at Memphis VA Medical Center.  Hear from a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discuss how a telemetry technician's failure to follow a series of communications within the time frame established in the facility's cardiac telemetry monitoring policy delayed initiating a code blue alert, ending with the patient's death. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from August 2024.       “Once the patient's heart rate completely stopped and they went into asystole, that should have triggered a code blue. Period.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related Report: Care Deficiencies and Leaders' Inadequate Reviews of a Patient Who Died at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses findings at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where there was no documentation of required reusable medical device reprocessing, which put patients at risk for infection if the reusable medical devices used during subsequent procedures were, in fact, not cleaned per requirements. The VA OIG also found that high-level disinfection documentation was missing and made seven recommendations related to oversight of the medical center's Sterile Processing Service. This episode also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from July 2024.         “If it's [medical device] not documented properly and it's not documented in the system so that we can track the cleaning, the disinfecting, the sterilization, then we don't know if it's processed appropriately.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related Report: Deficiencies in Documentation of Reusable Medical Device Reprocessing and Failures in VISN 22 Oversight of Sterile Processing Service at the Raymond G. Murphy VAMC in Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses allegations that facility staff at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas delayed ordering medications following an elderly patient's discharge from a community hospital. The OIG substantiated that inadequate care coordination led to a delay in ordering discharge medications and found deficiencies in facility staff's response to the patient's death by suicide.  “If you go by the timeline, this is 17 days after the patient's first visit to the emergency room with the shortness of breath problems. . . . Unfortunately, the patient completed suicide that same day without receiving the medication.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director This podcast edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from June 2024.   Related Report:  Care Concerns and Failure to Coordinate Community Care for a Patient at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas

Dr. Grant Huang, Deputy Chief Research and Development Officer for the Veterans Administration.  Are you curious as to the type of research the VA is doing behind the scenes to ensure you will get the best treatment in the future? Dr. Huang shares with us the recent awards the VA Office of Research and Development has received and how that research saves lives daily. He gives us a window into the future of some programs that are being created and how those programs will make the VA one of the, if not the leader in cancer research. Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.comJoin us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner RadioYou can contact our host William (Bill) Hodges at bill@billhodges.com

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses allegations that some patients' behavioral health consults were being discontinued at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, which resulted in some significant delays in patients receiving recommended behavioral health services. This podcast edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from May 2024.       “Both in the allegation and what we found was basically that the program manager lacked a working knowledge of the consult management and scheduling processes.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related Report: Discontinued Consults Led to Patient Care Delays at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center in Oklahoma

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses a telemetry technician's failure to follow a series of communications within the time frame established in the facility's cardiac telemetry monitoring policy delayed initiating a code blue alert, ending with the patient's death. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from March 2024.       “Once the patient's heart rate completely stopped and they went into asystole, that should have triggered a code blue. Period.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related Report: Care Deficiencies and Leaders' Inadequate Reviews of a Patient Who Died at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee

This episode of the Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast features Anthony Albanese, MD, DFASAM. ASAM's 2024 Annual Award recipient, Dr. Albanese reflects on personal memories about how he learned about addiction and aspired to be an endoscopist because of video games like Space Invaders and Pacman. Dr. Albanese discusses his approach to medicine, focusing on the mind-body connection. He also talks about the emphasis he places on addiction medicine education and its importance in challenging the stigma, shame, and insecurity around addiction. Dr. Albanese explains his philosophy of "no wrong door" to treatment, how his career has evolved, and what motivates him to continue his work. Finally, Dr. Albanese offers advice to the next generation of addiction medicine specialists. Dr. Albanese is the chief of medicine for the VA Northern California Health Care System. He is also a health sciences clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at the UC Davis School of Medicine, and a vice chair in the Department of Medicine. He attended college and medical school at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1986. Dr. Albanese did his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at The St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York (now Mount Sinai West), and hepatology fellowship at the University of Miami. Under the mentorship of the addiction physicians in New York, he worked in the hospital's methadone clinic and detoxification programs. In Miami Beach, Dr. Albanese worked as the co-director of an addiction treatment program. After moving to Sacramento, California, he continued his work at the VA in gastroenterology, hepatology, and addiction medicine. Since then, he has had various roles at the VA including a position as an affiliations officer with the VA Office of Academic Affiliations. After completing a major national GME expansion project in 2021, Dr. Albanese returned to VA Northern California as chief of medicine. His research interests and publications have regarded the medical aspects associated with opioids and alcohol use, intestinal changes associated with HIV infection, and graduate medical education. He became a certified addiction medicine specialist first by ASAM in 1991, then by ABAM in 2007, and by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in 2019.   Links: VA Northern California Health Care | Veterans Affairs American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) ASAM's Awards & Scholarships American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM's Patient Resources page for more information. The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses how multiple OIG reports detail chronic leadership failures at the Indianapolis, Indiana VA medical center. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from February 2024.       “It overall affects the care that the patients receive. Some of the care just wasn't available anymore because they didn't have the cardiologists available.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses delays in the receipt of patients' colorectal cancer screening tests due to an unpaid postage bill by the Phoenix VA Health Care System in Arizona. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from January 2024.       “The VISN actually led a stand-down at the facility to retrain all of the laboratory staff about the test, about the assessing of the test and processing it. And then they also passed all of that information to all of the other facilities within VISN 22. So, it wasn't just Phoenix, you know, they made sure all of the facilities in VISN 22 had the same information and the same knowledge. So, to follow that up, they're doing weekly audits and checking to make sure that the logging process is being done correctly. And so far, the reported compliance has been 100 percent.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related Report: Delayed Receipt of Patients' Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests at the Phoenix VA Health Care System in Arizona

Show SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Dr. Christina Armstrong, a clinical psychologist at the Office of Connected Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs' central office. The Office of Connected Care focuses on improving health care through technology; Connected Care's programs include My HealtheVet, VA Telehealth Services, and VA Mobile, and more. About Today's GuestsChristina M. Armstrong, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at the Office of Connected Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs' central office. She is involved in development, evaluation and implementation of digital health technologies in clinical care. Previously, she served as Program Lead for an interdisciplinary Education and Training Program at the Connected Health Branch of the Defense Health Agency, United States Department of Defense. She received her doctorate and masters degrees in clinical psychology, specializing in neuropsychology, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship in Military Research Psychology with the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition to leading education and training efforts, she provides subject matter expertise in the areas of clinical psychology including the psychological diagnosis and treatment of mTBI and PTSD, suicide risk and prevention, substance abuse, neuropsychological assessment, virtual reality, virtual worlds, wearable technology, big data, and the development of behavior change products by leveraging innovative technology solutions to improve mental health in the military community. Dr. Armstrong is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in California and Washington State and serves on the Ethics Committee of the Los Angeles County Psychology Association. She also teaches graduate courses in ethics and law for mental health professionals at Pepperdine University and serves as an Associate Editor at the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.Links Mentioned In This EpisodeVA's Office of Connected CareVA Virtual Health Resource CentersPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Telehealth Services. In this course, you can learn how telehealth brings medical and mental health services directly to Veterans by using your computer or smartphone. You can see find the course here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Telehealth-Services    This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor. PsychArmor is the premier education and learning ecosystems specializing in military culture content PsychArmor offers an. Online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations. Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

On today's episode, BJ talks with Todd Bofinger, VA Office of Construction & Facilities Mgmt West Region Office & CMAA Colorado Chapter Membership Committee Chair. Todd discusses his career journey into a leadership role, the similarities and differences between navigating the public and private sectors, and what leadership strategies he has learned along the way. Resources mentioned: “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Joseph Grenny: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/1260474186/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/133-4283675-3283651?pd_rd_w=QA7ai&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=DTDNV6YE0H8TQHQTSWBV&pd_rd_wg=3I5im&pd_rd_r=46bf5141-5c23-4a49-963b-84d5da2c13d5&pd_rd_i=1260474186&psc=1LinkedIn: Todd Bofinger | LinkedInVA CFM: Office of Construction & Facilities Management (va.gov)Volunteer Organization Websites:  Longhopes Donkey Shelter – https://www.longhopes.org   Special Olympics – https://support.specialolympics.org Calls-to-action: Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don't see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.comAuthor: BJ Kraemer, MCFAKeywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

In this latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses the lessons learned in the care of a veteran who died after a fall in a VA outpatient clinic, part of the Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from August 2023.       “Since [the incident] happened, the facility has made several adjustments to ensure that in an emergency situation that staff is knowledgeable of the processes that they need to implement and carry out that will hopefully result in a better outcome.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline DirectorRelated Report: Episode Quality of Care Concerns and the Facility Response Following a Medical Emergency at the VA Southern Nevada Health Care System in Las VegasPublished: 6/28/2023Report #22-02725-132

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses deficiencies in the quality of emergency department care for a veteran who died by suicide at the John Cochran Division of the St. Louis Healthcare System in Missouri. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from July 2023.“Approximately 10 minutes later is when the staff person finds the patient unresponsive in the exam room with a ligature around his neck. A code was called, meaning a code blue so that all emergency staff would present to that room, and they tried to resuscitate the patient, but that was unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead about 10 to 15 minutes later.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director Related ReportDeficiencies in Emergency Department Care for a Patient Who Died by Suicide at the John Cochran Division of the VA St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri

Catherine Kelso, MD, MS Dep. Exec. Dir. VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care has spent most of her life providing care to Geriatric patients. Even as a child, she was the caregiver at her home and then on to nursing school before finding her calling as a d Geriatric Doctor. Her interview is enlightening on so many levels for those of us who are growing older, She discusses treatments, warning signs, and also help the VA can provide to keep you in your home. Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.comJoin us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner RadioYou can contact our host William (Bill) Hodges at bill@billhodges.com

In the latest episode of Veteran Oversight Now, a VA OIG healthcare inspection hotline director discusses missteps in the care of a veteran who eventually committed suicide on the grounds of the Aiken Community Based Outpatient Clinic, part of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. This edition also includes highlights of the VA OIG's work from June 2023.       “In VA you're assigned a primary care provider called your PCP, that, in theory, should be the main provider you see. That's where all of your referrals start for specialty care, and that's how you gain continuity of care. Unfortunately, with this veteran he saw one provider, and then the next appointment saw a different provider, and then the third appointment saw a third provider.” – Trina Rollins, VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Hotline Director  Related Report:Deficient Care of a Patient Who Died by Suicide and Facility Leaders' Response at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia

Dr. Chelsea Cosby Morgan, with the VA Office of Women's Health talks about the concept of Health Equity and how the VA supports Veterans using a team based approach to meet the individual needs of every Veteran.

CCCT with Bruce Clodfelter Jr. & Bruce Clodfelter Senior from Rosendin Electric VA Office Video  CCCT sat down with a father & son duo Bruce Clodfelter, Junior & Bruce Clodfelter, Senior from Rosendin Electric's VA's office. Rosendin is one of the largest electrical contractors in the United States employing over 7,000 people. They are EMPLOYEE OWNED – For more than 100 years, Rosendin has created a reputation for building quality electrical and communications installations, building value for clients, and building people within the company. Enjoy the conversation. https://www.rosendin.com/    

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, May 26th, 2023. https://www.dailywire.com/news/college-enrollment-keeps-sliding-even-three-years-after-lockdowns College Enrollment Keeps Sliding Even Three Years After Lockdowns Enrollment for most forms of postsecondary education in the United States continued to decline three years after nationwide lockdowns forced many students to temporarily continue their degrees online, according to a new analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse. Public four-year institutions saw a 0.8% enrollment decline as of spring 2023, a somewhat less severe decrease than the 1.2% decline recorded in 2022 but more pronounced than the 0.3% decline in 2021 and the 0.2% decline in 2020. Private four-year nonprofit institutions meanwhile witnessed a 1.0% decrease in 2023, compared to the 1.2% decrease in 2022, the 0.4% decrease in 2021, and the 0.6% decrease in 2020. There are currently 7.1 million students enrolled in public four-year colleges and 3.9 million students enrolled in private four-year nonprofit colleges, marking drops from 7.3 million and 4.0 million enrolled students, respectively, from spring 2019, the last year which was not affected by the lockdowns. “Undergraduates at public and private nonprofit four-year institutions are still declining but at slower rates,” the analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse summarized. “Total postsecondary enrollment remains well below pre-pandemic levels.” Community college enrollment nevertheless increased 0.5% as of spring 2023, a phenomenon driven by “dual enrolled high school students and freshmen,” while the number of students pursuing graduate or professional degrees plummeted 2.2% from last year. The postsecondary education marketplace has been critically disrupted by the lockdowns and the advent of virtual instruction, realities which increasingly prompted students to question the time and funds they devote toward their college degrees. Elevated levels of student debt, which officials in the Biden administration are seeking to address through an executive order to cancel $10,000 in loans for every borrower earning less than $125,000, have also prompted many students to pause or discontinue their education. The debt forgiveness policy was recently examined by the Supreme Court, which is expected to release an opinion on the controversial move within the next month. Lockdowns also severely diminished learning outcomes at the primary and secondary levels. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that average reading scores for nine-year-olds plummeted five points and average mathematics scores dropped seven points, marking the first score decline for reading in three decades and the first score decline for mathematics in the history of the initiative. Stanford University economist and Hoover Institution senior fellow Eric Hanushek revealed in a recent study that learning losses could cause affected students to lose between 2% and 9% of their lifetime earnings as they miss the opportunity to learn critical skills, reducing prospects for future nationwide economic growth. Parents concerned about the impact of lockdowns on education have removed their children from government schools at an unprecedented rate. The number of homeschooled students increased from 2.7 million in 2020 to 3.1 million in 2023, according to a study from the National Home Education Research Institute. New Saint Andrews: Today’s culture shifts like sand, but New Saint Andrews College is established on Christ, the immovable rock. The college is a premier institution that forges evangelical leaders who don’t fear or hate the world. Guided by God’s word, equipped with the genius of classical liberal arts and God-honoring wisdom, with a faculty dedicated to academic rigor and to God’s kingdom, New Saint Andrews College offers an education that frees people. Logic and language, hard work and joyful courage, old books and godly professors — New Saint Andrews Colleges provides time-tested resources that can equip your student for any vocation. To find out more, visit: nsa.edu https://www.theblaze.com/news/member-group-of-coalition-pushing-extreme-abortion-initiative-in-ohio-fighting-to-undercut-parental-rights Coalition pushing extreme abortion initiative in Ohio says it isn't trying to undermine parental rights. A member group's explicit agenda suggests otherwise. A leftist coalition is working to roll back Ohio's few remaining abortion restrictions by way of a proposed constitutional amendment. Some opposition groups have suggested that this craftily worded proposal will not only enable late-term abortions, but undermine parental rights on these and other matters of life and death, including the ability to protect children from sex-change mutilations. While proponents of member groups in the coalition have claimed the amendment will not undermine parental rights, recently highlighted remarks made by a key player behind the abortion initiative have done little to inspire confidence. Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom PAC are leading the charge to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution by way of an initiated constitutional amendment called the "Ohio Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative." The proposal to put this abortion initiative on the November 2023 ballot was certified in March by the state attorney general. The proposed amendment further states that the "state shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either: 1. An individual's voluntary exercise of this right or 2. A person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individual's health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care." The only ostensible restriction on abortion admitted in the amendment leaves determinations as to whether a viable human being can be exterminated up to abortionists. Parental rights are implicated and eroded under the amendment, argued the pro-life activists, because "'reproductive decisions' is a very broad term, and is intentionally included to stop any effort to put reasonable restrictions or enforce parental rights on a wide array of other destructive decisions—potentially including sex change surgeries." Carrie Severino and Frank Scaturro of the Judicial Crisis Network concurred, noting in National Review that "'reproductive decisions' ... is a very broad term. By explicitly defining such decisions as 'not limited to' the enumerated categories, the proposal establishes its scope as sweeping. A natural reading would extend to any medical procedure that involves the human reproductive system, including sex-change surgery." Extra to potentially affecting parents' ability to protect their children from sex-change mutilations and devastating puberty blockers, Dannenfelser and Sekulow highlighted how "if Ohio adopts the amendment, the state's supreme court can be expected to go even farther than the U.S. Supreme Court ever did in undoing the state's parental consent laws," in part by "outlawing any legal requirement for a parent to be notified about or consent before an abortion—or any other procedure related to 'reproduction decisions'—is performed on their child." https://twitter.com/i/status/1636019433578672130 - Play Video https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/05/23/va-cant-account-187-million-emergency-covid-19-funding.html VA Can't Account for $187 Million in Emergency COVID-19 Funding The Department of Veterans Affairs can’t account for at least $187 million in supplementary COVID-19 funding spread across more than 10,000 transactions related to the pandemic, according to a House oversight committee. Congress and the VA are at odds over the department's handling of nearly $37 billion in additional funding it received to address the COVID-19 pandemic, with House Veterans Affairs Committee leaders on both sides of the aisle critical of its failure to account for every dime. Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., and ranking member Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., praised the department for its pandemic response overall but called the VA out for its inability to account for the money, during a hearing sidetracked by GOP rancor over the department's messaging on debt ceiling legislation. Between 2020 and 2021, the VA received roughly $37 billion to address COVID-19 response, including an initial $60 million, followed by $19.6 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and another $17 billion in the American Rescue Plan. As part of the deal to receive the funding, the department was required to account for its spending, a mandate underscored by passage in November 2021 of the VA Transparency and Trust Act. Across a series of 40 reviews and reports, the VA Office of Inspector General found numerous accounting issues involving the COVID-19 funds, including a lack of visibility over payroll, some contracts and medical supplies. The IG said the problems are attributable to the department's decentralized management structure, as well as an outdated financial information technology software – that it doesn't expect to modernize for another decade. It determined that the department was challenged by inaccurate payroll accounting; used manual transfers and adjustments to its financial management systems that led to at least 53 reporting errors; had problems with supply acquisition, such as duplicate purchases; and failed to properly oversee its efforts to provide telehealth hardware to veterans, namely distributing tablet computers and cell phones so they could access health care but not recouping the equipment when the veteran failed to use it. Given the issues, both Bost and Takano said they have concerns for the $2.1 billion remaining in American Rescue Plan funds, with Bost and fellow Republicans saying the money should be returned, while Takano pressed the VA to be more transparent as it continues using the funding. VA officials told the committee Tuesday that the department will spend the remaining American Rescue Plan money by the end of the fiscal year for programs initiated during the pandemic such as housing and telehealth for homeless veterans; prosthetics and medical research, including studies of long COVID; and on preventing the spread of contagious diseases in hospital and administrative settings. https://www.outkick.com/matt-araiza-jets-workout-allegations-cleared-up/ NEW YORK JETS WORKING OUT MATT ARAIZA TWO WEEKS AFTER PUNTER’S NAME WAS CLEARED OF GANG RAPE ALLEGATIONS Matt Araiza has landed his first workout with an NFL team since being cut by the Buffalo Bills ahead of last season over gang rape allegations. The New York Jets are giving the free-agent punter a look, according to Adam Schefter. Matt Araiza was cut by the Bills in August 2022 shortly after an allegation was made public that he had taken part in the gang rape of a minor while attending San Diego State. Fast-forward nine months to May of this year, and it has been determined that he was not present at the time of the incident that allegedly took place in October 2021. The transcript of a meeting between the accuser and prosecutors was brought to light just over two weeks ago in which investigators explained that they do not believe Araiza was present at the time of the alleged assault. Prosecutors in the San Diego District Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges, but Araiza is still facing a civil suit that he has no plans of settling anytime soon. Despite that there wasn’t a single fact was known about the alleged incident, the Bills caved to the portion of the public who had already deemed the punter guilty and cut him shortly before the start of the 2022 NFL regular season.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, May 26th, 2023. https://www.dailywire.com/news/college-enrollment-keeps-sliding-even-three-years-after-lockdowns College Enrollment Keeps Sliding Even Three Years After Lockdowns Enrollment for most forms of postsecondary education in the United States continued to decline three years after nationwide lockdowns forced many students to temporarily continue their degrees online, according to a new analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse. Public four-year institutions saw a 0.8% enrollment decline as of spring 2023, a somewhat less severe decrease than the 1.2% decline recorded in 2022 but more pronounced than the 0.3% decline in 2021 and the 0.2% decline in 2020. Private four-year nonprofit institutions meanwhile witnessed a 1.0% decrease in 2023, compared to the 1.2% decrease in 2022, the 0.4% decrease in 2021, and the 0.6% decrease in 2020. There are currently 7.1 million students enrolled in public four-year colleges and 3.9 million students enrolled in private four-year nonprofit colleges, marking drops from 7.3 million and 4.0 million enrolled students, respectively, from spring 2019, the last year which was not affected by the lockdowns. “Undergraduates at public and private nonprofit four-year institutions are still declining but at slower rates,” the analysis from the National Student Clearinghouse summarized. “Total postsecondary enrollment remains well below pre-pandemic levels.” Community college enrollment nevertheless increased 0.5% as of spring 2023, a phenomenon driven by “dual enrolled high school students and freshmen,” while the number of students pursuing graduate or professional degrees plummeted 2.2% from last year. The postsecondary education marketplace has been critically disrupted by the lockdowns and the advent of virtual instruction, realities which increasingly prompted students to question the time and funds they devote toward their college degrees. Elevated levels of student debt, which officials in the Biden administration are seeking to address through an executive order to cancel $10,000 in loans for every borrower earning less than $125,000, have also prompted many students to pause or discontinue their education. The debt forgiveness policy was recently examined by the Supreme Court, which is expected to release an opinion on the controversial move within the next month. Lockdowns also severely diminished learning outcomes at the primary and secondary levels. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that average reading scores for nine-year-olds plummeted five points and average mathematics scores dropped seven points, marking the first score decline for reading in three decades and the first score decline for mathematics in the history of the initiative. Stanford University economist and Hoover Institution senior fellow Eric Hanushek revealed in a recent study that learning losses could cause affected students to lose between 2% and 9% of their lifetime earnings as they miss the opportunity to learn critical skills, reducing prospects for future nationwide economic growth. Parents concerned about the impact of lockdowns on education have removed their children from government schools at an unprecedented rate. The number of homeschooled students increased from 2.7 million in 2020 to 3.1 million in 2023, according to a study from the National Home Education Research Institute. New Saint Andrews: Today’s culture shifts like sand, but New Saint Andrews College is established on Christ, the immovable rock. The college is a premier institution that forges evangelical leaders who don’t fear or hate the world. Guided by God’s word, equipped with the genius of classical liberal arts and God-honoring wisdom, with a faculty dedicated to academic rigor and to God’s kingdom, New Saint Andrews College offers an education that frees people. Logic and language, hard work and joyful courage, old books and godly professors — New Saint Andrews Colleges provides time-tested resources that can equip your student for any vocation. To find out more, visit: nsa.edu https://www.theblaze.com/news/member-group-of-coalition-pushing-extreme-abortion-initiative-in-ohio-fighting-to-undercut-parental-rights Coalition pushing extreme abortion initiative in Ohio says it isn't trying to undermine parental rights. A member group's explicit agenda suggests otherwise. A leftist coalition is working to roll back Ohio's few remaining abortion restrictions by way of a proposed constitutional amendment. Some opposition groups have suggested that this craftily worded proposal will not only enable late-term abortions, but undermine parental rights on these and other matters of life and death, including the ability to protect children from sex-change mutilations. While proponents of member groups in the coalition have claimed the amendment will not undermine parental rights, recently highlighted remarks made by a key player behind the abortion initiative have done little to inspire confidence. Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom PAC are leading the charge to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution by way of an initiated constitutional amendment called the "Ohio Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative." The proposal to put this abortion initiative on the November 2023 ballot was certified in March by the state attorney general. The proposed amendment further states that the "state shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either: 1. An individual's voluntary exercise of this right or 2. A person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individual's health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care." The only ostensible restriction on abortion admitted in the amendment leaves determinations as to whether a viable human being can be exterminated up to abortionists. Parental rights are implicated and eroded under the amendment, argued the pro-life activists, because "'reproductive decisions' is a very broad term, and is intentionally included to stop any effort to put reasonable restrictions or enforce parental rights on a wide array of other destructive decisions—potentially including sex change surgeries." Carrie Severino and Frank Scaturro of the Judicial Crisis Network concurred, noting in National Review that "'reproductive decisions' ... is a very broad term. By explicitly defining such decisions as 'not limited to' the enumerated categories, the proposal establishes its scope as sweeping. A natural reading would extend to any medical procedure that involves the human reproductive system, including sex-change surgery." Extra to potentially affecting parents' ability to protect their children from sex-change mutilations and devastating puberty blockers, Dannenfelser and Sekulow highlighted how "if Ohio adopts the amendment, the state's supreme court can be expected to go even farther than the U.S. Supreme Court ever did in undoing the state's parental consent laws," in part by "outlawing any legal requirement for a parent to be notified about or consent before an abortion—or any other procedure related to 'reproduction decisions'—is performed on their child." https://twitter.com/i/status/1636019433578672130 - Play Video https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/05/23/va-cant-account-187-million-emergency-covid-19-funding.html VA Can't Account for $187 Million in Emergency COVID-19 Funding The Department of Veterans Affairs can’t account for at least $187 million in supplementary COVID-19 funding spread across more than 10,000 transactions related to the pandemic, according to a House oversight committee. Congress and the VA are at odds over the department's handling of nearly $37 billion in additional funding it received to address the COVID-19 pandemic, with House Veterans Affairs Committee leaders on both sides of the aisle critical of its failure to account for every dime. Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., and ranking member Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., praised the department for its pandemic response overall but called the VA out for its inability to account for the money, during a hearing sidetracked by GOP rancor over the department's messaging on debt ceiling legislation. Between 2020 and 2021, the VA received roughly $37 billion to address COVID-19 response, including an initial $60 million, followed by $19.6 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and another $17 billion in the American Rescue Plan. As part of the deal to receive the funding, the department was required to account for its spending, a mandate underscored by passage in November 2021 of the VA Transparency and Trust Act. Across a series of 40 reviews and reports, the VA Office of Inspector General found numerous accounting issues involving the COVID-19 funds, including a lack of visibility over payroll, some contracts and medical supplies. The IG said the problems are attributable to the department's decentralized management structure, as well as an outdated financial information technology software – that it doesn't expect to modernize for another decade. It determined that the department was challenged by inaccurate payroll accounting; used manual transfers and adjustments to its financial management systems that led to at least 53 reporting errors; had problems with supply acquisition, such as duplicate purchases; and failed to properly oversee its efforts to provide telehealth hardware to veterans, namely distributing tablet computers and cell phones so they could access health care but not recouping the equipment when the veteran failed to use it. Given the issues, both Bost and Takano said they have concerns for the $2.1 billion remaining in American Rescue Plan funds, with Bost and fellow Republicans saying the money should be returned, while Takano pressed the VA to be more transparent as it continues using the funding. VA officials told the committee Tuesday that the department will spend the remaining American Rescue Plan money by the end of the fiscal year for programs initiated during the pandemic such as housing and telehealth for homeless veterans; prosthetics and medical research, including studies of long COVID; and on preventing the spread of contagious diseases in hospital and administrative settings. https://www.outkick.com/matt-araiza-jets-workout-allegations-cleared-up/ NEW YORK JETS WORKING OUT MATT ARAIZA TWO WEEKS AFTER PUNTER’S NAME WAS CLEARED OF GANG RAPE ALLEGATIONS Matt Araiza has landed his first workout with an NFL team since being cut by the Buffalo Bills ahead of last season over gang rape allegations. The New York Jets are giving the free-agent punter a look, according to Adam Schefter. Matt Araiza was cut by the Bills in August 2022 shortly after an allegation was made public that he had taken part in the gang rape of a minor while attending San Diego State. Fast-forward nine months to May of this year, and it has been determined that he was not present at the time of the incident that allegedly took place in October 2021. The transcript of a meeting between the accuser and prosecutors was brought to light just over two weeks ago in which investigators explained that they do not believe Araiza was present at the time of the alleged assault. Prosecutors in the San Diego District Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges, but Araiza is still facing a civil suit that he has no plans of settling anytime soon. Despite that there wasn’t a single fact was known about the alleged incident, the Bills caved to the portion of the public who had already deemed the punter guilty and cut him shortly before the start of the 2022 NFL regular season.

Thank you so much to the VA Office of Women's Health for sponsoring this week's episode. Want to learn more about HeaRT? Head over to their website to learn more or sign up to attend an in person or virtual event today. https://www.womensheart.info/registerMentioned in this episode: https://www.we2arevets.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinee-prete/Get connected:Women of the Military Mentorship ProgramGirl's Guide to Military Service available where books are sold. Signed copies of A Girl's Guide to Military ServiceGirl's Guide to the Military SeriesSee full show notes: https://www.airmantomom.com/2023/02/continuing-to-serve-the-military-community/Get your Women of the Military Podcast gear here.If you are a woman who has served in the military or is currently serving in the military and would like to share your story please sign up to be on my waitlist here. Women who have served or are currently serving in the military are welcome to bypass the waitlist by supporting the podcast via Patreon at the $3/month supporter level. Learn more about supporting the work of Women of the Military podcast here.

Attorney Kimberly Wakefield Aiken - EMAIL: info@wakefieldaikenlaw.com Phone #: 866-846-0652 A General Civil Practice Firm (Real Estate, Probate, Guardianship, etc) The founder and manager of Wakefield Aiken Law, LLC. She is a native of Jacksonville, FL. Ms. Aiken has chosen to dedicate her practice to rural South Georgia counties that are often under-served in the area of legal representation. She also offers Professionals Mobile Notary Services Educational Background Ms. Aiken received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School and her Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida State University. ​Land Use, Title, and Real Estate Prior to her legal career, Ms. Aiken worked in the public utility industry as an accountant and compliance specialist supporting construction projects. She is also a licensed Real Estate Title Agent. She has extensive knowledge of various real estate settlement, environmental, land use and title matters. ​Wills, Trusts & Estates As a cancer survivor, Ms. Aiken knows first-hand the devastating impact unexpected illness and disability can have on family life. She is passionate about equipping individuals and families with a proper Estate Plan to protect and preserve family assets and relationships. ​Veteran Advocacy Ms. Aiken comes from a family of U.S. Military Veterans with over 50 years of combined service in the armed forces. She is an Accredited Attorney Advocate under the VA Office of General Counsel. She strives to be a voice for our nation's veterans, service members, and military families in the areas of affordable housing, compensation, disability, and estate planning. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dr-angelia-griffin/support

The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the VA Office of Inspector General's (OIG) oversight efforts from April 1 through September 30, 2022. For this six-month period, the VA OIG identified more than $1.4 billion in monetary impact for a return on investment of $16 for every dollar spent on oversight—which brings the fiscal year 2022 totals to nearly $4.6 billion in monetary impact for a return on investment of $24 for every dollar spent on oversight. These figures do not include the inestimable value of the healthcare oversight work completed to advance patient safety and quality care. During this six-month period, the Office of Investigations opened 178 cases and closed 213 (most of which were opened in prior periods), with efforts leading to 135 arrests. The OIG hotline received and triaged 18,396 contacts to help identify wrongdoing and address concerns with VA activities. Collectively, the work during this period resulted in 599 administrative sanctions and actions. The Office of Audits and Evaluations (OAE) produced 44 publications, including five VA management advisory memorandums that highlighted concerns requiring VA's prompt attention. Contracting review teams also conducted 47 preaward and postaward contract reviews to help VA obtain fair and reasonable pricing on products and services. OAE reports for the six-month period resulted in 198 recommendations. The Office of Special Reviews (OSR) issued five publications, including three reports in response to allegations of senior VA officials' misconduct, which reflect the VA OIG's commitment to holding VA employees accountable for wrongdoing and promoting the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. OSR also issued two joint publications: a VA management advisory memorandum with OAE regarding concerns with the calculation of patient wait time data, and a report with the Department of Defense (DoD) OIG, focusing on efforts by DoD and VA to achieve electronic health record system interoperability. The Office of Healthcare Inspections (OHI) maintained a strong focus on leadership and organizational risks, suicide risk reduction, quality of care, and patient safety. OHI published 19 healthcare inspection reports; 17 Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) reports, including three CHIP summary reports; four national healthcare reviews; and its first Care in the Community report that examined key clinical and administrative processes associated with providing quality VA and community care.  

In this episode, I interviewed Michelle Gardner-Ince "GI" from the VA Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization about her perspective as somebody who's worked in government and what she's witnessed with small businesses. We talk about some of the do's and don'ts, lessons learned, and best practices for government contractors that are trying to get assistance from the OSDBU or contracting officers. Disclaimer: The views in this episode are GI's opinion and not the opinion of the VA. ----- Schedule a call with Michael: https://calendly.com/michaellejeune/govconstrategysession ----- Federal Access is helping Government Contractors win more contracts. It can help you too. Here's a special offer. Visit https://federal-access.com/gamechangers today and get started for just $29. *You are going to get access to a digital copy of the Government Sales Manual. * Over 100 strategy videos * More than 30 webinars * 300 documents and templates AND * SME support. So when you run into an issue, you can email me directly for help. Go check out this special offer today at https://federal-access.com/gamechangers

Arash Harzand, MD, MBA, senior innovation fellow at the VA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning in Atlanta, talks about digital transformation in health care and how it's helping to fill critical gaps. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. AMA's "Return on Health" Research Framework is available here: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/amas-return-health-telehealth-framework-practices To access "The Playbook: Digital Healthcare Edition," visit: https://www.dimesociety.org/access-resources/the-playbooks/digital-healthcare-edition/

Impacts of potential Schedule F Richard Loeb, senior policy counsel at the American Federation of Government Employees, discusses Schedule F and the Preventing a Patronage System Act   VA Office of Women's Health Dr. Patricia Hayes, chief officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Women's Health, discusses the mission of her office and the increasing number of women veterans   US and UK ‘special relationship' Sam Edwards, associate professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses changes in the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and U.K. in light of a new prime minister and new monarch

Native Americans in professional healing professions may creatively incorporate Native ways in their work, but the path is not easy.  The same is true for those coming from a Western background that realize there is something lacking in modern medicine and are attracted to Native ways of healing. Western and Native approaches to healing may seem incompatible—linear-mechanical, biological or genetic causes versus interdependent, community and natural world imbalances—but there is a way to integrate them, to see and walk in two worlds. Not easily and not without pushback perhaps, but there is a way. Our two guests, one Native, one non-Native, have both been powerfully influenced and transformed by Indigenous wisdom and also other ways of knowing and have done the work to integrate and implement a more holistic vision of medicine. Join us as we explore how to integrate healing traditions on the next Circle for Original Thinking podcast. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine where he trained in family medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology. He has been on the faculties of several medical schools, most recently as associate professor of family medicine at the University of New England. He continues to work with aboriginal communities to develop uniquely aboriginal styles of healing and health care for use in those communities. He is the author of Coyote  Medicine, Coyote Healing, and Coyote Wisdom, a trilogy of books on  what Native culture has to offer the modern world. He has also  written Narrative Medicine, Healing the Mind through the Power of Story among others, and his most recent book is with Barbara Mainguy, Remapping Your Mind: the Neuroscience of Self-Transformation through Story. Lewis currently works with Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, which serves the five tribes of Maine. You can find his near weekly blog on futurehealth.org https://www.mehl-madrona.com/http://www.coyoteinstitute.info/Newsletter: Etuaptmumk: The Journal of Two-Eyed SeeingRSS for Lewis's podcast Howling Coyote: https://anchor.fm/s/68c15710/podcast/rss David Kopacz, MD of Polish, Welsh, and Northern European descent,  works as a psychiatrist in Primary Care Mental Health Integration at Puget Sound Veterans Affairs (VA) in Seattle. He is a National Education Champion with the VA Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation. David is an Assistant Professor at University of Washington and is certified through the American Boards of: Psychiatry & Neurology; Integrative & Holistic Medicine; and Integrative Medicine. He did his training through University of Illinois and has worked in Illinois, Nebraska, Washington state, and New Zealand. David is the author of Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice and the Culture of Medicine, and with co-author Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), Walking the Medicine Wheel: Healing Trauma & PTSD; Becoming Medicine: Pathways of Initiation into a Living Spirituality; and Becoming Who You Are: Beautiful Painted Arrow's Life & Lessons. https://www.davidkopacz.com/https://beingfullyhuman.com/Blog: Becoming Medicine by David Kopacz

Related Reports:OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration's Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year 2022 Pursuant to the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 (VCQEA), the OIG conducted a review to identify clinical and non-clinical occupations experiencing staffing shortages within Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This is the ninth iteration of the staffing report, and the fifth evaluating facility-level data. The OIG evaluated staffing shortages by surveying VHA facilities, and compared this information to the previous four years.The OIG found that all 139 VHA facilities reported at least one severe occupational staffing shortage. The total number of reported severe shortages was 2,622. Twenty-two occupations were identified as a severe occupational staffing shortage by at least one in five facilities. Every year since 2014, the Medical Officer and Nurse occupations were reported as severe shortages. Practical Nurse was the most frequently identified clinical severe occupational staffing shortage in FY 2022, with 62 percent of facilities reporting this occupation. Custodial Worker was the most frequently reported non-clinical severe occupational shortage in FY 2022, with 69 percent of facilities reported the occupation. Medical Support Assistance was the most frequently reported Hybrid Title 38 severe occupational shortage.In FY 2022, VHA reported twenty-two percent more severe occupational staffing shortages as compared to FY 2021. FY 2022 is the first year since implementation of VCQEA reporting requirements in which the OIG did not observe a yearly decrease in the overall number of severe occupational staffing shortages; it was also the first time that facilities identified more than 90 occupations as severe shortages. The OIG again determined the ongoing need for Custodial Worker and Medical Support Assistance, noting an increase in the number of facilities identifying these occupations as severe shortages. The OIG emphasizes the importance of VHA's continued assessment of severe occupational staffing shortages given the increases from FY 2021 to FY 2022.The Veterans Health Administration Needs to Do More to Promote Emotional Well-Being Supports Amid the COVID-19 PandemicThe Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Emergency Management issued the initial COVID-19 Response Plan on March 23, 2020, and then an updated version on August 7, 2020. The National Center for Organization Development created a COVID-19 rapid response consultation process for VHA leaders in a supervisory role. The Organizational Health Council developed a team that coordinated with multiple VHA program offices to create a COVID-19 Employee Support Toolkit and other resources. Additionally, several program offices independently created and disseminated employee well-being resources specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, including National Center for Organization Development, Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, Chaplain Service, and the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified a generally diminishing awareness of employee emotional well-being supports in relation to organizational hierarchy, low utilization of support resources by leadership and frontline employees, as well as employee perception of inadequate support and responsiveness from leadership.The OIG conducted a review to assess how the VHA addressed the emotional well-being of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The OIG also conducted an overview of VHA programs, including what specialized programs were developed and deployed in response to the unique psychological challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic for VHA's staff. The OIG interviewed VA and VHA leaders in multiple offices. The OIG developed and deployed a survey about VHA guidance regarding employees' emotional well-being during the pandemic, available resources, monitoring of available support programs, and employee engagement with available support programs.The OIG made one recommendation to the Under Secretary for Health related to increasing leadership and staff awareness of COVID-19 emotional well-being resources for VHA employees and awareness of resources about potential risks and signs of burnout.

Veteran Related Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization VETS FIRST Verification Program VA Small and Veteran Business Programs Watch Related Sourcing Physical Stores Brands: Swatch Independents: Local Jewelers etc. Boutiques Brands Joma Shop Ebay Online Only Independents Long Island Watch Del Ray Watch Note: None of the links in the Watch Related Section are affiliate links Admin This episode is sponsored by Mushi Watch Straps, a Veteran-Owned Company that makes stylish, durable, and fairly priced watch straps and accessories. Give them a visit for all your watch strap and accessory needs and use discount code “VET10” for 10% off your entire purchase at checkout: www.mushiwatchstraps.com Visit https://www.watchrolling.com/ for Veteran Resources, articles, and more cool watch-related stuff. For WatchRolling.com merch: https://www.watchrolling.com/merch (a percentage of all proceeds will go to the Veteran's Watchmaker Initiative) and remember, at WatchRolling.com-"You make the watch; the watch doesn't make you." While Dial 988 then Press 1 is a new option for contacting the Veterans Crisis Line, the original number: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, remains available, and Veterans can continue to reach out via chat at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/ or by text to 838255. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/watchrollingpod/support

Cancer innovation has been a longstanding priority in the current administration. But sometimes overlooked is some of the nation's most sophisticated lung cancer research underway at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes applying capacities like modernized electronic health records and artificial intelligence to support groundbreaking innovation. Dr. Michael Kelley, director of the National Precision Oncology Program, and Kenute Myrie, portfolio manager at the VA Office of Research and Development, discuss how the agency is advancing understanding of cancer and improving long-term health outcomes for veterans.

Related Reports: Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Exam Process Needs ImprovementSince 1990, some 3.5 million veterans have served in areas that potentially exposed them to airborne hazards and open burn pit toxins, which have been associated with health problems. In 2013, Congress ordered VA to establish a registry to research the potential health impacts of exposures. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the management of registry exams, including whether VA medical facilities conducted them within the 90-day prescribed period. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) began collecting and recording data in the registry in May 2014 through an online questionnaire and free in-person exams. The OIG found many veterans did not complete the 140-item questionnaire, which is not clear and veteran-centric. Veterans also did not always realize they were responsible for scheduling their own exams. Improvements in the registry exam process would help ensure more eligible and interested veterans receive them. VHA plans to establish a call center to assume some of the scheduling and coordination responsibilities by October 2022. This is well-timed given the number of veterans indicating they would like an exam has further increased since August 2021, when VA established a presumptive “service connection” for respiratory conditions due to exposure to particulate matter, such as asthma, sinusitis, and rhinitis. Whether the call center will mitigate the issues identified by the OIG cannot yet be determined, and its rollout does not negate the need for corrective actions. The OIG made seven recommendations to the under secretary for health that include revising the questionnaire to be more veteran-centric, identifying whether veterans with unscheduled exams are still interested in one, and implementing processes and metrics to ensure exams are completed. Further, the OIG recommended developing guidance to ensure responsible parties review and discuss performance data and the enhancement of registry information systems. Veterans Prematurely Denied Compensation for Conditions That Could Be Associated with Burn Pit ExposureVA recognizes exposure to smoke from the large burn pits used by the US military to dispose of waste from its bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti as a potential cause of disabilities. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff processed more than 21,100 burn pit-related claims from June 2007 through September 2021. Given the potential impact on many eligible veterans, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether VBA staff followed regulations and procedures when addressing conditions that could be associated with burn pit exposure. VBA treats burn pit-related claims like most other disability compensation claims, though it also considers exposure to environmental hazards based on a veteran's service location. VBA provides medical examiners a burn pit fact sheet to help ensure any opinion is fully informed based on all known objective facts. The review team examined three distinct samples of claimed conditions potentially related to burn pit exposure completed from May 1, 2020, to May 1, 2021, and found VBA could improve its processing and oversight. Though VBA staff nearly always made the correct decision in granting compensation for conditions identified as burn pit-related, the OIG found most denials were premature. The OIG made seven recommendations to VBA management, including correcting four errors involving improperly granted conditions, and reviewing denied cases, correcting errors they identify, and certifying that corrections were made. VBA should also update its adjudication procedures manual to provide separate and specific guidance for handling claims based on burn pit exposure and modify its examination request application to add specialty language from the burn pit fact sheet into medical opinion requests. Finally, VBA should update training materials and ensure they are consistent with the adjudication procedures manual guidance.

Related Report: Suicide Prevention Coordinators Need Improved Training, Guidance, and OversightReport Summary: As part of the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) suicide prevention strategy, suicide prevention coordinators at VA medical facilities are required to reach out to veterans referred from the Veterans Crisis Line. Coordinators provide access to assessment, intervention, and effective care; encourage veterans to seek care, benefits, or services with the VA system or in the community; and follow up to connect veterans with appropriate care and services after the call. VHA's Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is responsible for issuing policy and guidance for managing crisis line referrals. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to evaluate whether coordinators properly managed crisis line referrals to ensure at-risk veterans were reached.The OIG found that coordinators mistakenly closed some veteran referrals because coordinators lacked the proper training, guidance, and oversight necessary to maximize chances of reaching at-risk veterans referred by the crisis line. VHA lacked comprehensive performance metrics to assess coordinators' management of crisis line referrals, and coordinators lacked clear guidance on how to manage crisis line referrals. Until VHA provides appropriate training, issues adequate guidance, and improves performance metrics, coordinators could miss opportunities to reach and assist at-risk veterans.The OIG made five recommendations to the under secretary for health that include improving data integrity, training coordinators on using patient outcome codes, developing additional guidance, monitoring compliance with requirements to space calls over three days, and evaluating program data for additional opportunities to improve services for referred veterans.

In an agency as large as Veterans Affairs, with a third of a million employees, there's no shortage of things to go wrong. Often, it is whistleblowers that point them out, often to the office of inspector general. Now a bipartisan bill that passed the House would ensure continuance of a policy, that every VA employee receive training by the OIG, to learn how to report alleged wrongdoing. Here with more on the VA Office of Inspector General Training Act, one of its original sponsors, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

Related report: Contract Medical Exam Program Limitations Put Veterans at Risk for Inaccurate Claims DecisionsReport summary: Given the importance of medical exams to disability claims and the high cost of VA's contracts with exam vendors, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) set out to determine whether the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) oversaw contract medical disability exams to ensure they met quality standards and contractual requirements, established procedures for correcting errors, and gave feedback to vendors to improve exam quality.VBA's governance of and accountability for the exam program needs to improve. The identified deficiencies appear to have persisted, at least in part, because of limitations with VBA's management and oversight of the program at the time of the review. The OIG found VBA's program was deficient because it hindered the ability to hold vendors accountable for correcting errors and improving exam accuracy. VBA should improve the program to help ensure vendors produce accurate exams to support correct decisions for veterans' claims.Contract exams are a significant investment, and VA has spent nearly $6.8 billion since fiscal year 2017. Some of the exams produced by vendors have not met contractual accuracy requirements. As a result, claims processors may have used inaccurate or insufficient medical evidence to decide veterans' claims. Therefore, it is vital for VBA to improve the governance and accountability of the program.The OIG made four recommendations to the acting under secretary for benefits, including ensuring vendors can be held contractually accountable for unsatisfactory performance and establishing procedures for vendors to correct errors. The OIG also recommended requiring the Medical Disability Examination Office to communicate vendor exam errors to the Office of Field Operations and the regional offices and demonstrate progress in correcting them, and analyze all available data to identify systemic errors and provide systemic exam issues and error trends to vendors.

Support, Communication, and Simplifying Complex Problems.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Ashley Spurr and Lisa Harris, Co-Owners of Elevare, LLC. Ashley and Lisa discuss starting Elevare and how they landed on the name over chips and salsa. They also explain how narrowing their offerings resulted in a more refined approach for Elevare. Ashley and Lisa dive deep into the world of GWACs, Polaris, Service MACs, and more. Finally, Ashley tells us about the many animals she has living on her property while Lisa reveals how she became a Guinness World Record holder. QUOTES “They fall into that sales pitch that they're going to have the tool, and automatically poof they'll have a pipeline. But it's not that easy, and that's why the service that Ashley and I offer is so important. We can manage the tool, and we can take it and give them just the opportunities that they should be looking at” - Lisa Harris [12:00] “I have a list of everybody I have ever talked to on the phone about Elevare's services. And every six months I'm shooting them an email - ‘hey, still here, what do you need?' Because that repetition is letting them know that even though you're not supporting them, you still think about them.” - Ashley Spurr [28:10] “The average is 18 months before you win something in the federal space as a prime or sub [contractor], so you have to stick with it. And I think we bring that calmness of telling you ‘just stay with it, and it will work out.'” - Ashley Spurr [33:38] “When you get started, do not skimp on your attorney, do not skimp on your accountant. Make sure you do everything right from the beginning because you don't want to be playing catch-up. Don't start your business first and then go back and try to put all these things in place.” - Lisa Harris [46:17]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [01:31] Meeting Ashley and Lisa [06:27] Starting Elevare [09:00] How Ashley and Lisa Met Shana [11:48] Getting Comfortable with Business Tools [15:24] Lisa's Transition from a Full-Time Job to Elevare [17:42] Ashley and Lisa's Morning Meetings [18:29] Ashley's Family [20:07] Refining the Services Elevare Offers [23:29] Lisa's Family [24:37] Picking Elevare's Name [29:22] Landing New Clients [31:33] What Elevare Offers [39:25] GWACs [41:30] Polaris and Service MAC [43:20] Ashley and Lisa's First Jobs [44:24] Unique Benefits to a Woman-Owned Business [47:40] Ashley's Surprising Fact [49:35] Lisa's Surprising Fact [51:16] Advice for their Younger Selves [53:02] Outro     RESOURCES https://www.visitfortwayne.com/ (Fort Wayne, Indiana) https://www.in.ng.mil/ (Indiana National Guard) https://www.todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs (Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)) https://briljent.com/ (Briljent, LLC) https://theniic.org/news/launch-women-pitch-competition-winners-selected/ (Elevare Wins Launch Women Pitch Competition) https://www.defense.gov/ (Department of Defense (DOD)) https://www.nps.gov/ (National Parks Service (NPS)) https://www.national8aassociation.org/ (National 8(a) Association) https://www.colts.com/ (Indianapolis Colts) https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JackLa00.htm (Lamar Jackson) https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TuckJu00.htm (Justin Tucker) https://www.purdue.edu/ (Purdue University) https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm (HubSpot) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/excel (Microsoft Excel) https://www.naics.com/what-is-a-naics-code-why-do-i-need-one/#:~:text=A%20NAICS%20(pronounced%20NAKES)%20Code,related%20to%20the%20US%20Economy. (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/prime-subcontracting (Prime Contracting and Subcontracting) https://www.intelligence.gov/ (United States Intelligence Community) https://www.va.gov/osdbu/ (VA Office of Small And Disadvantaged Business Utilization...

Dr. Stuart Gilman shares the history of how the education mission developed at the VA and future directions. Dr. Stuart Gilman recently retired as Director of Advanced Fellowships with the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

On today's episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast, the Pentagon hopes to see clear progress from the new Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office within the next year. The annual authorization for the money the Department of Defense can spend is underway. Bill Greenwalt, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and founder of the Silicon Valley Defense Group, discusses what to expect as NDAA markups get underway and how the industrial base is rapidly changing for DOD. The Department of Homeland Security has one fewer opening among its political appointee cohort today. Rafael Borras, president and CEO at Homeland Security & Defense Business Council and former Department of Homeland Security undersecretary for management, explains the impact of unfilled roles on agency management. The Department of Veterans Affairs is missing key metrics in its rollout of its electronic health records system, according to the VA Office of Inspector General. Dr. Julie Kroviak, deputy assistant inspector general for healthcare inspections at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses her team's findings from the Mann-Grandstaff health center in Spokane, Washington. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every weekday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. And if you like what you hear, please let us know in the comments.

Sumner Furniture & Design (703-348-5697) can now help you make your office pandemic compliant while also creating a comfortable, productivity-inducing space. To find out how they can make your office look its best, visit https://www.sumnerfurniture.com (https://www.sumnerfurniture.com)

The Semiannual Report to Congress summarizes the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) oversight from April 1 through September 30, 2021.For this period, the VA OIG identified over $2.9 billion in monetary impact for a return on investment of $29 for every dollar spent on oversight. This does not include the inestimable value of the healthcare oversight work completed to advance patient safety and quality care. The OIG hotline received and triaged 15,104 contacts in this reporting period, bringing the total to 29,233 for the fiscal year.The Office of Audits and Evaluations (OAE) published 42 reports, including three VA management advisory memoranda highlighting issues for prompt VA response. Contract review teams also conducted 58 preaward and postaward contract reviews and six claims reviews to help VA obtain fair and reasonable pricing on products and services. OAE reports for the six-month period resulted in 184 recommendations.The Office of Healthcare Inspections focused on veterans' access to high-quality care and the continuity of that care even as the pandemic persisted. The VA OIG published 74 healthcare inspections and reviews during the reporting period with 559 recommendations. The reports included examinations of the criminal actions of a serial murderer and an intoxicated pathologist, including the devastating impact of these actions and how they went unaddressed for so long.The Office of Special Reviews published a report that received significant national attention, detailing a case in which a veteran, who was missing for weeks, was found dead in a stairwell of a building on a VA medical facility campus. The report delves into the widespread confusion among VA personnel and weaknesses in policies and procedures related to searches for missing patients and residents, routine police patrols, and building-cleaning practices.The Office of Investigations opened 169 cases and closed 207 (most of which were opened in prior periods), with efforts leading to 113 arrests. Collectively, the work during this period resulted in 729 administrative sanctions and actions involving VA personnel.Review this report and previous semiannual reports to congress at the VA OIG website. 

Benefits of DevSecOps for veteran experience Todd Simpson, deputy assistant secretary for development, security and operations at the VA Office of Information and Technology, discusses how his organization is using an agile, product-focused software development approach to improve user experience for veterans   Securing critical defense information with CMMC-AB Matthew Travis, chief executive officer of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body at the Defense Department, explains what is different about CMMC 2.0, what defense contractors should be doing to prepare and how to become a CMMC assessor   Collaborating between 5G technology and airplane regulations Tom Wheeler, visiting fellow for governance studies at the Brookings Institution, discusses what the government has done to address interference between 5G and airplane technology and what still needs to be done

This week's Borne the Battle – a benefits breakdown – features the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). They are an internal accountability office that protects and advocates for Veteran-owned businesses. They also work to ensure that Veteran entrepreneurs can compete and be selected for a fair amount of contract opportunities.Air Force Veteran Michelle Gardner-Ince is the director of the Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSBI), a directorate under OSDBU at VA. Gardner-Ince is motivated to help women Veteran entrepreneurs get opportunities, access and education to achieve their business goals. Since WVOSBI's inception in 2019, it has provided women Veterans with networking and collaborative opportunities with Federal agencies and private-sector corporations.In this episode of Borne the Battle, Gardner-Ince answers these questions and more: What motivates her to help Veterans at VA? What is classified as a small business? What are the eligibility requirements for being certified as a Veteran-owned small business? How can a Veteran-owned small business become a Certified Veteran Enterprise (CVE)? How can Veteran-Owned small businesses avoid common mistakes when breaking into federal contracting? For Veterans who need help verifying their small business, OSDBU partnered with Procurement Technical Assistant Centers (PTACS), which helps to ensure that Veteran-owned small businesses can compete successfully in the government marketplace.Additionally, OSDBU helps Veterans understand the process of bidding on federal contracts through its Direct Access Program and Strategic Outreach and Communications office.But before contacting OSDBU, Gardner-Ince recommends that Veterans first reach out to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Veteran Business Outreach Center for assistance.OSDBU provides various services and programs that are ready to help Veteran-owned small businesses take the next steps to secure a federal contract. However, not enough women Veteran entrepreneurs know that these programs exist. Gardner-Ince aims to close the gap by reaching out to and helping Women Veteran-owned businesses by providing them with opportunities to understand the system and improve their business goals.Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:Marine Corps Veteran William McDowell Additional Links: Borne the Battle #231: Army Veteran Dawn Halfaker, Combat Wounded Amputee, CEO of Halfaker and Associates WVOSB Resources. VA Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA). VA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program updates. Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program. Veterans pave way forward through STEM and small businesses. Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization Vets First Verification Program. 2.5 Million Small Businesses Are Owned by American Military Vets. VA proposes updates to disability rating schedules for respiratory, auditory and mental disorders body systems

Much has been reported in the news about the issues facing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Articles abound about reform, but few highlight the incredible dedication and work performed by law enforcement to curtail untoward activity ranging from fraud to murder. “Behind the Murder Curtain” follows investigations of Medical Serial Killers conducted by the Special Agents and forensic nurses of the VA Office of Inspector General and their law enforcement partners. Bruce Sackman, former Special Agent-in-Charge, candidly walks the reader through the roadblocks experienced by his team in identifying and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that doctors such as Dr. Michael Swango and nurses like Kristin Gilbert murder their patients instead of upholding the Hippocratic Oath. The doctors and nurses featured in this book pursue careers in medicine for a variety of reasons, including the desire to inflict excruciating pain and suffering or be seen as the savior. The book focuses on Medical Serial Killers who at some point in their careers work for the government, but clearly articulates that the problem is not a unique one. Sackman recounts meeting a Scotland Yard detective who investigated Dr. Harold Shipman, ultimately responsible for killing hundreds of people. Sackman presents the herculean effort and time it took to find and convict Dr. Swango, who left the country for Africa to continue practicing medicine. He spells out the difficult relationships amongst various agencies in working together and offers ways to tackle investigations by addressing the most obvious crime first. Sackman's idea to pursue Dr. Swango on fraud charges enabled him to be detained at the airport before boarding a flight for Saudi Arabia. After years of investigating Medical Serial Killers, Sackman developed The Red Flags Protocol, an A-Z checklist, to help hospitals and law enforcement pay attention to anomalies. It is truly unfathomable that physicians and nurses might use their positions to murder patients, but after reading “Behind the Murder Curtain” it is clear that medical professionals are on the front lines of identifying these killers. “Behind the Murder Curtain” is published by Post Hill Press. https://behindthemurdercurtain.com/

Much has been reported in the news about the issues facing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Articles abound about reform, but few highlight the incredible dedication and work performed by law enforcement to curtail untoward activity ranging from fraud to murder. “Behind the Murder Curtain” follows investigations of Medical Serial Killers conducted by the Special Agents and forensic nurses of the VA Office of Inspector General and their law enforcement partners. Bruce Sackman, former Special Agent-in-Charge, candidly walks the reader through the roadblocks experienced by his team in identifying and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that doctors such as Dr. Michael Swango and nurses like Kristin Gilbert murder their patients instead of upholding the Hippocratic Oath. The doctors and nurses featured in this book pursue careers in medicine for a variety of reasons, including the desire to inflict excruciating pain and suffering or be seen as the savior. The book focuses on Medical Serial Killers who at some point in their careers work for the government, but clearly articulates that the problem is not a unique one. Sackman recounts meeting a Scotland Yard detective who investigated Dr. Harold Shipman, ultimately responsible for killing hundreds of people. Sackman presents the herculean effort and time it took to find and convict Dr. Swango, who left the country for Africa to continue practicing medicine. He spells out the difficult relationships amongst various agencies in working together and offers ways to tackle investigations by addressing the most obvious crime first. Sackman's idea to pursue Dr. Swango on fraud charges enabled him to be detained at the airport before boarding a flight for Saudi Arabia. After years of investigating Medical Serial Killers, Sackman developed The Red Flags Protocol, an A-Z checklist, to help hospitals and law enforcement pay attention to anomalies. It is truly unfathomable that physicians and nurses might use their positions to murder patients, but after reading “Behind the Murder Curtain” it is clear that medical professionals are on the front lines of identifying these killers. “Behind the Murder Curtain” is published by Post Hill Press. https://behindthemurdercurtain.com/

Tech challenges at VA Office of Information & Technology Paul Brubaker, acting principal deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology, discusses how his office responded to the pandemic early on and is addressing infrastructure limitations to improve system effectiveness Responding to latest weapons tests from North Korea David Choi, news reporter for Stars and Stripes, discusses talks between the United States and South Korea to update operational plans after new weapons tests from North Korea Enhancing communication between agencies, IG offices Courtney Bublé, staff correspondent at Government Executive, discusses new guidance from the Biden administration for agencies to improve communication and coordination with inspectors general

#fedheads Francis Rose and Robert Shea got to dig into information technology planning, procurement, and governance with the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Information and Technology with executives Martha Orr and Merissa Larson. Great lessons learned for anyone in IT.

This podcast is brought to you by the VA Office of Rural Health. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. The following episode may contain descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Please use discretion.In this episode we hear the life story of a World War II Veteran with a wide range of military experiences. We discuss how PTSD treatment can allow Veterans to remember and share certain stories of their military experiences with others, often for the first time, even decades after their service. Resources discussed in this episode: •Medications for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/medications.asp•VA PTSD program locator: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/PTSD.aspFurther Reading: •Understanding PTSD and Aging: English Version https://www.ptsd.va.gov/publications/print/understandingptsd_aging_booklet.pdf ; Spanish Version https://www.ptsd.va.gov/spanish/docs/understandingptsd_aging_booklet_SP.pdf•VA Geriatrics and Extended Care: https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/•National Center for PTSD AboutFace episode: https://www.youtube.com/embed/AFZVwyM6kG4?rel=0 Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one? Find support anytime day or nightTo connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime day or night:•Call 800-273-8255, then select 1.•Start a confidential chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.•Text 838255.•If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.

This podcast is brought to you by the VA Office of Rural Health. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. The following episode may contain descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Please use discretion.In this episode we hear the life story of a Veteran who immigrated to the United States from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and subsequently enlisted in military service. We discuss resilience, social connection, and diversity in the military. We also discuss how nurses and other healthcare providers provide trauma-informed care. Resources discussed in this episode: •Council on Foreign Relations report on US Military demographics: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/demographics-us-military•Article: What is Agent Orange? https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/Further Reading: •Article on common stress reactions: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/violence_trauma_effects.asp•Agent Orange exposure & VA disability compensation: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/•SAMSHA Concept of trauma-informed care: https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one? Find support anytime day or nightTo connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime day or night:•Call 800-273-8255, then select 1.•Start a confidential chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.•Text 838255.•If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 13 and 15 require Contracting Officers to purchase goods and services from responsible sources at a fair and reasonable price.  Meaning, a price that a prudent businessperson would pay for an item or service under competitive market conditions and reasonable knowledge of the marketplace.  This is done for every contract action through a number of proposal analysis techniques and procedures defined by regulation which are documented through written evidence to support that the price is fair and reasonable.  This is particularly important, and required, in Government Contracting because we are stewards of taxpayer dollars.  In this episode we break down the techniques and tools we use to determine fair and reasonable pricing. The discussion also presents  the challenges acquisition professionals might face when completing a price analysis as well as the challenges confronted when there is an absence of competition. Our panel also discusses the differences between price reasonableness and price realism.   To address these topics and more, we have a fantastic panel of Office of General Counsel Attorneys and Contracting Officers who collectively have decades of experience.  This panel includes: Tara Nash, VA Office of General Counsel, AttorneyDesiree DiCorcia, VA Office of General Counsel, AttorneyDen-el Opuszynski, VA TAC, Contracting OfficerMatthew Newell, VA TAC, Contracting Officer 

What is the VA Office of Pension and Fiduciary Service? Well if you are receiving a check from the Veterans Benefits Administration that is where it is probably coming from. In this broadcast, Kevin Friel, Deputy Director of Pension and Fiduciary Services for the VA explains how his office can benefit you and should there be a veteran who needs help in handling his or her financial affairs how they can provide that help. We also talk about eligibility requirements for the various survivor and low-income benefits. This is powerful information and Deputy Director Friel will return again after the first of the year to expand on each of the financial services they provide to veterans and their families. 

Episode 2148 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Vietnam Era Army doctor who is still serving veterans. The featured story comes from the VA Office of Research & Development and is titled: VA Researchers … Continue reading → The post Episode 2149 – Vietnam Era Vet cited for prostrate cancer research appeared first on .

Veteran vaccine acceptance comes down to trust and truth, according to VA Office of Health and Equity’s Dr. Ernest Moy. On this bonus episode, Dr. Moy provides updates on Veteran vaccination rates and vaccine acceptance. He speaks on health care disparities, trust and transparency in vaccine trials and VA’s success in vaccinating minority populations.Dr. Moy began his career over 25 years ago at VA Manhattan during medical school, followed by a residency at VA Philadelphia and a first job at VA Baltimore. He began to study health care disparities at a time when people didn’t believe the disparities existed. Now, Dr. Moy explains how VA and other health care systems address the disparities instead of denying their existence.Health care disparities exist in areas such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and geographic location. Dr. Moy works to diminish these disparities to make health care more equitable and accessible to all Americans. At VA, he aims to identify high risk populations so VHA can address issues faced by specific populations.Dr. Moy explains the rationales of Veterans who refuse the vaccine at VA health care centers, which is often a matter of choice, not outright refusal. Veterans are still getting vaccinated, just on their own terms.In this episode, Dr. Moy explains how VA is more effective than public health care systems at easing the worries of minority populations about the COVID vaccines and why rural Veterans aren’t getting vaccinated as quickly as urban Veterans.Additional Links: Information about COVID-19 vaccines at VA. Sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA. Borne the Battle BONUS: COVID Update #7: Clinical Trials and Emergency Department Procedures.

We were honored enough to chat with Sumitra Muralidhar (Suma), the Director of the Millions Veterans Program (MVP). MVP is funded by the VA Office of Research and Development to study how genes affect health and to improve the overall healthcare we receive. There are over 800,000 Veterans enrolled in the research program, of that number ONLY 9% are women! So MVP is on the move to enroll more women Veterans and learn the affects that our genes and the sometimes harsh environments we find ourselves in play in our long term health. You will be amazed at some of the things we find out! To learn more about the program go to mvp.va.govThis episode is brought to you by: Wholenessoasis.com Promo Code: CombatDivas for 15% off your order!http://www.etsy.com/shop/medardasteahouse Promo Code: combatdiva2 for 15% off of your orderBigtoeseasonings.com Promo Code: Combatdivas10 for 10% off of your overall orderSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-combat-divas-podcast1486/donations

The isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all Americans, no less so for veterans seeking treatment for mental health and PTSD recovery. Hear from Dr. Christina Armstrong, clinical psychologist at the VA Office of Connected Care, on how the agency has worked to increase the availability and access to remote counseling and mental telehealth over the past year.

Good Morning Veterans, Family, and Friends, welcome back to the TWELFTH EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor. On this week's podcast, we will discuss Three Issues Facing Veterans in Your Community. We will also continue our fun facts of UBI (Useful Bits of Information) and Veteran News, so stick around for the program! There are three primary issues that face veterans in almost every community at one point in their lives; unemployment, homelessness, and suicide. If it doesn’t, then you are one of the lucky ones, but for many, this is their reality. Veterans bring many skills to the table, and many of these skills that have been learned in the military can benefit their communities once they’ve been discharged. Often, a veteran needs a helping hand to get reintegrated into their communities to become a functioning member. While veterans have unique skills, they also possess unique hurdles, including higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and suicide, but with the help of their communities, they can overcome these obstacles. Many need help at the right time – especially offered by the proper people, organizations, and businesses in their communities. Veteran Unemployment Veteran unemployment is twice the national average. A Veterans’ most significant obstacles in obtaining employment are translating their military background into a work experience that is easily understandable by civilians, that meets the licensing requirements, and finding jobs while being disabled. As veterans become older and the longer, he or she has been separated from military service, the better their prospects are for employment. While eighty percent of military jobs have a civilian counterpart, the licensing requirements usually differ. This requires the veteran to go through civilian education in a field that they have already mastered. Also, the educational and testing requirements may vary from state to state. The Veterans Administration (VA) will help pay for testing, but the cost of education usually will fall on the veteran, which can be very expensive. The 29-percent service-related disability rates are higher among veterans. Most common disabilities include missing limbs, burns, hearing loss, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Veterans with service-related disabilities had an employment-population ratio of 43.3 percent, which is lower the 49-percent of the non-disabled population. The VA helps veterans by providing a Military Skills Translator, which translates military jobs into easy to read resume-ready information – and imports it to the organization’s Resume Builder. Additionally, there are exclusive unemployment benefits for veterans. The Department of Labor (DOL) partnered with the VA to offer Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services, helping with training in developing new job skills, starting a business, or receiving education counseling. Another service, The Veterans Opportunity to Work program, can offer to extend additional vocational rehabilitation benefits for those who have completed their initial program. Rally Point provides post-military professional networking opportunities for veterans, along with Jobless Warrior providing employment and job search resources, to include career coaches and information on employers looking to hire veterans. Those veterans with service-connected disabilities have a preference when applying for specific federal jobs or potentially winning individual federal government contacts. Some Disabled veterans also are eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation. Those who hire service-disabled veterans qualify for tax incentives through the Special Employer Incentive program. The VOW program also can assist veterans in receiving disability accommodations. Veteran Homelessness One out of ten of those homeless people are veterans; 50 percent are disabled, and three-quarters of homeless veterans have some sort of mental health issues. Another 1.5 million veterans are at-risk for homelessness because of poverty, lack of support networks, and overcrowded housing. One half a million veterans pay more than one half of their total income on their rent. Many of our nation's homeless veterans, or at-risk for homelessness, have service-connected disabilities, especially mental health issues like PTSD or substance abuse issues. Unemployment can also factor in because of the inability to transition military training to civilian work. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans stresses a need for housing, nutrition, physical, mental healthcare, and job services for our nation's homeless and at-risk veterans. The coalition reports that community-based programs to serve veterans saw the most significant success rate. The Interagency Council of Homelessness has established a benchmarking guide for communities looking to address veteran homelessness actively. This council also has published a strategy guide, recommending a public commitment to eradicating veteran homelessness; coordination programs with private landlords matching homeless vets with housing; identifying resources at the federal, state, and local levels; and coordinating with job programs to help provide training and services. The Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service provided the availability of $12 million in funding to help veterans with job training and sustainable housing to transition them from homelessness. The VA provided housing assistance in conjunction with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program, including exams, treatment, and referrals. The Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program offered mental health and rehabilitation services and job services explicitly targeted toward our homeless veterans to help with assistance. Additionally, Veterans Matter is a nonprofit organization that provides housing to homeless veterans founded by a formerly homeless man. Veterans Matter works directly with other organizations to raise awareness and funding. Veteran Suicide Veterans represent one in five of the total population of those who die from suicide in America. Unfortunately, Twenty-two veterans will die of suicide daily. Many of those lack access to or don’t utilize available VA services that are available. There are many reasons why veterans are suffering from this issue. Many veterans suffer from isolation, have little to no meaningful social connections, and become prone to suicide issues, especially during transitional periods – such as separation from the military or changes in their lives. Unemployment and homelessness are periods that veterans may see themselves as burdens to their communities, which are significant stressors, as viewed by the veteran. The risk of suicide is most notable during the first three years following separation from the military. This isolation can be especially acute in veterans who suffer from PSTD or lost fellow service members, even if they have an adequate support system. In such cases, veterans may feel that others can't understand the trauma they have endured, causing a feeling of disconnection from society. The Center for Disease Control established in a report on suicide prevention that the following recommendations should be implemented to improve a veterans environment: strengthening financial security, encouraging emotional intelligence and identifying and intervening with those most at-risk, improving safe storage practices for firearms and medicines, stabilizing housing, increasing access to mental health care, promoting community engagement, and enhancing communication and problem-solving skills. The VA also has a dedicated suicide crisis line – call 1(800) 273-8255 or text 838255 – including helpful resources for veterans and concerned loved ones to obtain information on suicide warning signs and crisis resources. Additionally, the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has developed training called; “Signs, Ask, Validate, Encourage and Expedite” to help those who encounter veterans to recognize red-flags of suicide and act. The nonprofit Psych Armor Institute has helped provide this training covering various topics from military culture, myths, supporting veterans, and self-care. Additionally, the VA Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide addresses veteran suicide in a multi-pronged approach: visibility and awareness; preventive services; treatment and support; and research. Through knowledge, pro-active, and preventive measures and support, your community can best serve its veterans, reaping the benefits of all they have to offer in return and thanking them for their service. Conclusion Well, hopefully, this information is helpful to you, or you can share it with a fellow veteran who can use it in their life. If there is two things I learned a long time ago, Always Strive to Learn Something New Everyday! and Knowledge is Power! So, Never Stop Learning!

Fixed-price-incentive contracts at the Pentagon Bill Russell, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisition Issues at GAO, discusses what GAO analyzed when looking at how DoD is tracking outcomes of using fixed-price-incentive contracts Cyber survivability issues in DEOS and other contracts Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses cyber survivability and DoD’s ability to implement and secure cloud offerings Updates on the Veterans Health Administration’s Innovation Ecosystem Danielle Krakora, Product Manager at the VA Office of Information and Technology, and Hunter Futo, Product Designer and Research Engineer at Electric Church, Inc., describe this year’s competition to develop solutions supporting frontline workers during COVID-19

Heather O'Beirne Kelly is a senior legislative and federal affairs officer in the Science Government Relations Office of the American Psychological Association, a post she has held since 1998. In this role, Dr. Kelly advocates for behavioral science on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies and directs APA's Executive Branch Science Fellowship Program. Within her advocacy portfolio are the psychological research programs within the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Science Foundation. She also is the team leader for all of APA's military and Veteran-related issues. Dr. Kelly sits on the Executive Committee of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Coalition; represents APA on the VA Office of Mental Health Services Stakeholders Group; has testified before Congress regarding funding for VA research and mental health services; and has coordinated numerous Capitol Hill briefings on topics of interest to the veteran population, including suicide prevention, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Kelly graduated from Smith College in 1987 and worked in non-profit development for clients including the Children's Defense Fund, UNICEF and the March of Dimes before becoming director of corporate relations for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in 1989. Dr. Kelly received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia in 1998, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kelly's research focused on adolescent social development, child sexual abuse and adolescent dating violence. As a therapist, she worked primarily with children and families. In This Particular Episode You Will Learn: Heather's background and the American Psychological Association's military focus Local and National view of Veteran Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness needed at all levels Partnership between mental health professionals and other veteran advocates Bridging the civilian-military divide in mental health The military family aspect of veteran mental health Response to the movie "Thank You For Your Service" and how the VA has changed since the events depicted in the movie Collaboration between VA providers and community providers Need to build a network of community support and education about veteran mental health Sleep as the gateway to veteran mental health --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/changeyourpov/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/changeyourpov/support

Dr. Alicia Christy and Dr. Chelsea Cosby from the VA Office of Women's Health share information regarding the COVID 19 Vaccination in women & minorities.https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/

Academic practice partnerships help prepare students for the practice setting. The Veterans Administration (VA) Academic Partnership was created at the national level by the VA Office of Academic Affiliation and pairs academic institutions with VAs across the country. In this podcast, Dr. Ashley Roach and Sherrill Hooke describe strategies and outcomes of a partnership in a university-VA setting.

Latest developments in the presidential transition process Robert Shea, Principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, describes what agencies are doing to plan for the reelection or election of a new president and prepare for the next administration Thrift Savings Plans updates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic Greg Klingler, Director of GEBA Wealth Management, discusses the Thrift Savings Plan and investment patterns during the coronavirus pandemic Expanding telehealth options for veterans during the coronavirus Dr. Neil Evans, Chief Officer of the Office of Connected Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the explosion of telehealth since the pandemic began and efforts by the VA Office of Connected Care to make it easier for veterans to use this capability

We’re joined by Veterans Affairs Assistant Under Secretary for Health Support Services Deb Kramer and Executive Director at the VA Office of Procurement and Logistics Andrew Centineo to discuss the agency’s restructuring of its medical supply chain to meet the abrupt demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the broader shift to an enterprise-level model and the application of data analytics to predicting and preventing the shortage of vital medical equipment.

Preparing for both a pandemic and hurricane season Dave Grant, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting how agencies are preparing for this year’s hurricane season Updates from the Veterans Health Agency Innovation Ecosystem Danielle Krakora, Product Manager at the VA Office of Information and Technology, describes how the Veterans Health Agency Innovation Ecosystem pivoted from creating solutions for veterans to providing protective gear for first responders during the coronavirus Heightened security risks during the coronavirus Hugo Teufel, Chief Privacy Officer at CenturyLink, discusses the increase in cybersecurity risks with mass telework and what agencies should consider regarding privacy when collecting personal information from employees

This week’s one hour radio broadcast is dedicated to a review of national security as host Dale Throneberry talks with Rebecca Grant about our relationship with other nations around the world and recent military news. Co-host Jim Fausone offers a pre-recorded interview with Dr. Neil Evans, MD. Dr Evans is the Chief Officer of the VA Office of Connected Care and provides insight into the successful Telehealth program offered by the VA.

Dr. Matt Miller, Acting Director, Suicide Prevention Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, joins the show to talk the VA's efforts to impact suicide in the veteran community

What does the VA Home Loan Program, the VA Office of Faith and Opportunity, the VA Assistive Technology Program, Vet Centers, Appeals Modernization Office and VA’s diabetes training and self-management have in common? They were all featured as benefits breakdown episodes on Borne the Battle in 2019.

Dominic Cussatt, principal deputy CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses top technology priorities at the Department, and how they're building out the agency's enterprise architecture. Bill James, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Development and Operations at VA, and Patti Craighill, director of DevOps implementation at the VA Office of Information and Technology, discuss how changing acquisitions at the office is streamlining the deployment process, and how they're implementing DevOps at the agency.

Current privacy concerns have Google in the spotlight. Google lives in fear the U.S. will finally pass privacy laws outlining restrictions and consumer rights, as exists in Europe. The Right to be Forgotten and to control online info in Europe puts them way ahead of the U.S. in the privacy realm. Google’s preemptive strike is a newly launched activity suite tool allowing users to better control their info and have their tracking data wiped automatically.  Sign into Google. Type in myactivitiy.google.com. There you’ll see everything Google has on you – massive. Then you have the right to have them wipe out everything 90 days old and older. You can choose 90 days to 1.5 years to let Google retain your activity info until they delete it. The Inspector General is like the cop inside a federal agency there to expose wrongdoing and enforce the law. The  VA Office of Inspector General found that 1 in 3 veterans who’ve sought emergency healthcare, are denied their medical claims by the VA, even when perfectly legitimate. Inexcusable and Unacceptable. The men and women who have served and put their lives on the line for American freedom deserve to have the promises made to them carried out. The average ATM charge in the U.S. is now $4.72. The cost to a bank is around .02cents. Beyond outrageous. Why do they do it? In the aftermath of the last decade’s banking scandals, the federal government bailed out the big banks and let small banks sit and spin. This led to a massive closure of smaller banks, and thus less competition. 4 big banks now have half of all banking market share. ATMs are disappearing around the country as people use less cash these days. Also, we now have an ever-expanding roster of online banks, offering lower costs and far better savings rates. The big banks pay essentially 0 on savings vs around 2% offered by online banks. And – credit unions have filled the void left by small local banks going away. Credit Unions provide much better deals than banks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An overview of the injustices inflicted upon United States Military Veterans including detrimental impact by the VA Office. 

Whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs say not much has changed since it stood up a new office designed to weed out confusion and retaliation. The VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection is supposed to recommend disciplinary actions and fire employees for poor performance. The office is also supposed to protect whistleblower rights. But whistleblowers told members of Congress they're still seeing and experiencing retaliation. VA said lawmakers aren't getting the full story, and Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko had more details on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Keita Franklin, the National Director of Suicide Prevention for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Dr. Franklin and her team are focused not just on intervening when a veteran is considering taking their own life, but on putting measures in place to prevent veteran suicide. We talk about the need for education and advocacy in both the provider community and communities at large.

Dominic Cussatt, deputy chief information officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Gary Stevens, director of the VA Office of Cybersecurity, discuss the importance of data privacy to VA, and why the agency is prioritizing it. Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight, discusses how contractors were impacted by the shutdown and what they have to do to get up and running again. Ellen Sundra, vice president of Americas Systems Engineering at Forescout Technologies, discusses the importance of continuous mitigation to government cybersecurity, and why automation is important to the effort.

Retired Army SFC Dan Jarvis was deployed to a combat zone in Afghanistan in 2011. Shortly after his arrival, he stepped on a pressure plate and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) five feet from his position on the patrol. The IED inflicted a traumatic brain injury. He insisted on continuing to lead his troops on the battlefield instead of convalescing, however the Battalion surgeon ordered him out for a week before rejoining his Soldiers. After weeks of no sleep, as a result of the IED blast, he led his squad on a mission to escort an explosive team to defuse a bomb found by another Platoon. His role in the lead vehicle was to detect IEDs on the route, to ensure safe passage for the other vehicles in the convoy. An undetected IED exploded under the fourth vehicle in the convoy, taking the life of SPC Doug Cordo. Dan felt responsible for the loss of one of his Soldiers. Near the end of his deployment, Dan received a Red Cross message informing him that his mother was deathly ill. He immediately left Afghanistan and headed to the United States in hopes of seeing his mom before she took her last breath. Unfortunately, he did not make it in time to say good-bye before she died, which weighed heavily on him. After her funeral, Dan returned to his assigned duty station in Fairbanks, Alaska. Burdened under the weight of such guilt and still unable to sleep, Dan self-medicated with alcohol, binge drinking each night until he feel asleep. On the night of March 2, 2013, he contemplated suicide – eyeing the rifle in the corner and convincing himself that it would be easy to end the mental torture. Hearing the pitter-patter of little feet on the floor of the apartment above him, he realized he would potentially endanger those kids if a bullet was fired. Not long after, he passed out from the alcohol. He awoke the next morning to a call informing him that one of the soldiers from his former Platoon, SPC Corey Smathers, had shot and killed himself the night prior. Questioning how they missed the signs that Smathers was struggling, Dan realized that he too was masking the signs from those he knew and loved. Dan and the other men struggled emotionally as they grieved their fellow brother and Soldier. Watching the men struggle and worrying that he may “green light” one of them to do the same, Dan resolved that he would not take his own life. However, the mental torture remained as did the binge drinking each night. Due to multiple combat injuries, Dan medically retired from the Army on September 11, 2014 and returned home to Winter Haven, Florida. He quickly busied himself by reentering the law enforcement profession. Mutual friends introduced Dan to his future wife in January 2015, whom he married in April 2016. All the while, he hid his struggles and the need to self-medicate. Unfortunately, his combat injuries forced his retirement from law enforcement in May of 2017. With little to occupy his time, the weight of his military experiences, and transition out of service began to manifest more visibly in his drinking, depression, nightmares, night sweats, and negative outlook. His wife strongly encouraged him to seek help, and he contacted the local VA Office. The VA diagnosed Dan with Post Traumatic Stress and began to treat him with prolonged exposure therapy, which tormented him nearly as much as the trauma he had experienced. He opted not to continue this line of treatment. Months later, Dan met Retired Army Lt. Colonel Scott Mann, who introduced him to professionals in alternative treatments, such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol. Dan’s experience with alternative therapies was so life-changing that he was compelled to help others find the same relief from traumatic memories.

Kristen Wing, MA, is a Communications Specialist at the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center in Iowa City, IA, which is affiliated with the VA Office of Rural Health. In this podcast, she discusses her poster, “Community Clergy Training Program to Improve Rural Veterans’ Mental Health.”

This show began with guest Patricia Axelrod of The Peoples' Advocate/Desert Storm Think Tank and ALL Veterans' Advocate revealing her work with a whistle blowing high ranking VA doctor who has complained to regional and onsite VA Supervisory and Directorship Personnel about extraordinary  shortage of medical equipment , instruments, support  and technical staff impairing the quality of care he is able to provide for his veteran patients.  Axelrod went on to inform listeners of the VA retaliatory persecution and prosecutorial efforts the VA has launched against him as he has now been charged  by the VA with 'creating a hostile environment in a Federal workplace'.  The VA has sworn the doctor to secrecy in the matter even though they have already begun hearings against him for which he was denied access to counsel or adviser. Axelrod complaints of wrong doing to the VA Office of Special Counsel (VAOSC) who has statutory supervisory oversight of these hearings has resulted in VAOSC failure to act in accordance with their own law.  Host Rokke related his first hand knowledge of whistle-blower retaliation  afterwhich the show segued into military base  toxic contamination.   

Summary: Heather O’Beirne Kelly is a senior legislative and federal affairs officer in the Science Government Relations Office of the American Psychological Association, a post she has held since 1998. In this role, Dr. Kelly advocates for behavioral science on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies and directs APA’s Executive Branch Science Fellowship Program. Within her advocacy portfolio are the psychological research programs within the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Science Foundation. She also is the team leader for all of APA’s military and Veteran-related issues. Dr. Kelly sits on the Executive Committee of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Coalition; represents APA on the VA Office of Mental Health Services Stakeholders Group; has testified before Congress regarding funding for VA research and mental health services; and has coordinated numerous Capitol Hill briefings on topics of interest to the veteran population, including suicide prevention, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Kelly graduated from Smith College in 1987 and worked in non-profit development for clients including the Children’s Defense Fund, UNICEF and the March of Dimes before becoming director of corporate relations for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in 1989. Dr. Kelly received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia in 1998, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kelly’s research focused on adolescent social development, child sexual abuse and adolescent dating violence. As a therapist, she worked primarily with children and families. In This Particular Episode You Will Learn: Heather's background and the American Psychological Association's military focus Local and National view of Veteran Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness needed at all levels Partnership between mental health professionals and other veteran advocates Bridging the civilian-military divide in mental health The military family aspect of veteran mental health Response to the movie "Thank You For Your Service" and how the VA has changed since the events depicted in the movie Collaboration between VA providers and community providers Need to build a network of community support and education about veteran mental health Sleep as the gateway to veteran mental health  Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: APA Society for Military Psychology PsychArmor Veteran Mental Health Boot Camp Dr. Kelly on Twitter Dr. Kelly on LinkedIn Dr. Kelly's email

Summary: Heather O’Beirne Kelly is a senior legislative and federal affairs officer in the Science Government Relations Office of the American Psychological Association, a post she has held since 1998. In this role, Dr. Kelly advocates for behavioral science on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies and directs APA’s Executive Branch Science Fellowship Program. Within her advocacy portfolio are the psychological research programs within the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Science Foundation. She also is the team leader for all of APA’s military and Veteran-related issues. Dr. Kelly sits on the Executive Committee of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Coalition; represents APA on the VA Office of Mental Health Services Stakeholders Group; has testified before Congress regarding funding for VA research and mental health services; and has coordinated numerous Capitol Hill briefings on topics of interest to the veteran population, including suicide prevention, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Kelly graduated from Smith College in 1987 and worked in non-profit development for clients including the Children’s Defense Fund, UNICEF and the March of Dimes before becoming director of corporate relations for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in 1989. Dr. Kelly received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia in 1998, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kelly’s research focused on adolescent social development, child sexual abuse and adolescent dating violence. As a therapist, she worked primarily with children and families. In This Particular Episode You Will Learn: Heather's background and the American Psychological Association's military focus Local and National view of Veteran Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness needed at all levels Partnership between mental health professionals and other veteran advocates Bridging the civilian-military divide in mental health The military family aspect of veteran mental health Response to the movie "Thank You For Your Service" and how the VA has changed since the events depicted in the movie Collaboration between VA providers and community providers Need to build a network of community support and education about veteran mental health Sleep as the gateway to veteran mental health  Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: APA Society for Military Psychology PsychArmor Veteran Mental Health Boot Camp Dr. Kelly on Twitter Dr. Kelly on LinkedIn Dr. Kelly's email