Rocky C
10-21-11, 03:33 PM
Report Redefines How Care and Services Are Provided
to Gulf War Veterans
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2011)- Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced that the Department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force
has completed the draft of a comprehensive report that will outline how the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) addresses the concerns of Veterans who
deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.
"This report provides a roadmap for our continued enhancements in our care and
services we provide to Gulf War Veterans," said Shinseki. "We will be applying
lessons learned from this report to Veterans of all eras."
Notification of the draft written report is published in the Federal Register,
and the draft written report addresses seven areas where VA provides services
for this group of Veterans.
Over the past year, the task force has examined, evaluated, designated and
adjusted the initial roadmap outlined in last year's report. VA has designated
steps to improve care and services to Gulf War I Veterans and these improvements
are becoming a part of our culture and operations.
This year's report focuses on improvements in the delivery of health care for
Gulf War Veterans. One of the most substantial additions is modifications to
clinical care models used for Gulf War Veterans, which is the most critical
point of service VA provides. There are better linkages between specialty
knowledge and services at the basic point of care. Clinical research and
development is significantly contributing new concepts and methods to clinical
practice and clinical education throughout VA.
Two new positions were established in the Office of Research and Development for
deployment and Desert Shield and Desert Storm health-related issues. Both
positions have been filled and are enhancing research efforts for Gulf War
Veterans and will continue to do so in the coming years.
VA is also strengthening partnerships and medical surveillance to address the
potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today's
battlefield. Additionally, VA continues to use social media to improve
communication with Gulf War Veterans.
The Chairman of the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force is John R. Gingrich,
chief of staff at VA, a retired Army officer who also served in the Gulf War.
"To ensure we are tracking the needs of our Veterans, we want to get feedback
from Gulf War Veterans on this draft report," said Gingrich. "Their feedback is
critical to our efforts to understand and serve their specific needs. Therefore,
we hope they take advantage of one of the different opportunities to provide
feedback that we have created for them."
to Gulf War Veterans
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2011)- Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced that the Department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force
has completed the draft of a comprehensive report that will outline how the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) addresses the concerns of Veterans who
deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.
"This report provides a roadmap for our continued enhancements in our care and
services we provide to Gulf War Veterans," said Shinseki. "We will be applying
lessons learned from this report to Veterans of all eras."
Notification of the draft written report is published in the Federal Register,
and the draft written report addresses seven areas where VA provides services
for this group of Veterans.
Over the past year, the task force has examined, evaluated, designated and
adjusted the initial roadmap outlined in last year's report. VA has designated
steps to improve care and services to Gulf War I Veterans and these improvements
are becoming a part of our culture and operations.
This year's report focuses on improvements in the delivery of health care for
Gulf War Veterans. One of the most substantial additions is modifications to
clinical care models used for Gulf War Veterans, which is the most critical
point of service VA provides. There are better linkages between specialty
knowledge and services at the basic point of care. Clinical research and
development is significantly contributing new concepts and methods to clinical
practice and clinical education throughout VA.
Two new positions were established in the Office of Research and Development for
deployment and Desert Shield and Desert Storm health-related issues. Both
positions have been filled and are enhancing research efforts for Gulf War
Veterans and will continue to do so in the coming years.
VA is also strengthening partnerships and medical surveillance to address the
potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today's
battlefield. Additionally, VA continues to use social media to improve
communication with Gulf War Veterans.
The Chairman of the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force is John R. Gingrich,
chief of staff at VA, a retired Army officer who also served in the Gulf War.
"To ensure we are tracking the needs of our Veterans, we want to get feedback
from Gulf War Veterans on this draft report," said Gingrich. "Their feedback is
critical to our efforts to understand and serve their specific needs. Therefore,
we hope they take advantage of one of the different opportunities to provide
feedback that we have created for them."