U.S. suicide rates have surged in recent years. The age-adjusted suicide rate is up 24 percent from 1999 – 2014, according to a study released last year by the National Center for Health Statistics. Veterans are more at risk than the general public, facing roughly double the risk as the general population according to data from 2014. For every completed suicide, there are 25 attempts. Combatting this terrible toll on human life and potential is a top priority for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA). September is National Suicide Prevention month, and VA is determined to do all it can to fight this health crisis.
Read MoreBetween the 1980s and early 2000s, most of the Veterans Health Information Systems Technology and Architecture’s (VistA) infrastructure and application improvements focused on creating a world-class hospital information system (HIS) for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These initiatives have generated a wealth of interoperable applications unmatched by any other system. VistA has streamlined and eliminated paper-based processes throughout clinical, financial and administrative departments, but it presents many challenges for modern healthcare organizations.
Read MoreIn last month’s VistA Community Meeting (VCM), industry thought leaders met to discuss issues and strategies for modernizing VistA—a tried-and-true electronic health record (EHR). The top takeaways from these insightful conversations include:
Read MoreIn an ongoing effort to ensure that VistA ─ the Hospital Information System (HIS) and electronic health record (EHR) for veteran health data ─ remains a best of breed enterprise system, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is continuously exploring modernization initiatives to keep pace with the changing landscape. This landscape is focused on patient centered care models, healthcare industry regulations and provider workflows.
Read MoreIn the last two decades, the number of female veterans—and, subsequently, their need for healthcare—has risen significantly. Between 2000 and 2012 alone, female care delivery needs within the veteran’s administration (VA) increased by 226%, a figure that only stands to rise as more active-duty women transition to veteran status. However, unlike their male counterparts who are aged 63 on average, nearly 80 percent of female veterans are under the age of 40 and therefore still of child-bearing age.
Read MoreConsider this scenario: A soldier wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom lost part of his arm in an explosion. He now wears a prosthetic forearm and hand, which must be maintained and refitted periodically. He requires physical and occupational therapies to learn how to use his prosthesis and he takes prescription medications to manage phantom limb pains, in addition to anxiety and depression.
Read MoreSelecting the best electronic health record (EHR) for any healthcare organization is a matter of matching capabilities to overall needs. VistA’s open-source approach offers inherent advantages in that matching, delivered in a time-tested solution that Medscape ranks as the number one EHR for overall customer satisfaction. The ability of VistA to be adapted, built upon and improved over time underscores its remarkable capacity to remain relevant, timely and appealing.
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