scholarly journals Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Using the Evidence Without Losing the Narrative

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 398-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark B. Warren ◽  
Leigh A. Smithkors
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
The U.S

scholarly journals Determinants of Workforce Preparedness during Pandemics Among Healthcare Workers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110047
Author(s):  
Michelle D. Balut ◽  
Claudia Der-Martirosian ◽  
Aram Dobalian
Keyword(s):  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Workforce Preparedness ◽  
Household Preparedness ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Relevant Factors

Objective: An infectious disease outbreak can place a significant burden on healthcare systems, however, our understanding of the broader healthcare workforce’s preparedness during a pandemic is limited. This study examines factors that influence perceived workforce preparedness at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during a pandemic. Methods: The VA Preparedness Survey was a random, anonymous, web-based survey fielded nationwide October to December 2018. Multivariate statistical analyses examined the effects of study relevant factors (sociodemographic, work-related, general health, and household-related characteristics of VA employees) on perceptions of workforce preparedness, including institutional readiness and understanding of individual roles during a pandemic. Results: Four thousand and twenty-six VA employees responded. Overall, 55% were confident in their VA medical facility’s ability to respond; 49% understood their role; and 68% reported their role to be important during a pandemic. After controlling for study-relevant factors, household preparedness, having plans that address the health care needs of family members, and higher self-reported health status were associated with all 3 workforce preparedness variables. Clinical staff (compared to non-clinical staff) were less likely (OR:0.80, 95% CI:0.68-0.94, P < .01) to have confidence in their medical facility’s ability to respond but more likely (OR:1.77, 95% CI:1.49-2.10, P < .001) to believe their role was important. Employees who have been at the VA longer (OR:1.07, 95% CI:1.01-1.14, P < .05) or have experienced a disaster while working at the VA (OR:1.29, 95% CI:1.04-1.59, P < .05) were more likely to understand their role during a pandemic. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest the need for identifying ways to increase VA employees’ confidence in their medical facility’s ability to respond to a pandemic; develop trainings to improve understanding of their different yet critical roles, for both clinical and non-clinical staff, during a pandemic; create different workforce trainings for newly hired employees; and identify ways to improve household preparedness for a pandemic outbreak.

Estimating Lost Revenue From a Free-Care Mandate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 1150-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Smith ◽  
Adam Chow ◽  
Rachel Kimerling
Keyword(s):  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Free Care ◽  
The U.S

scholarly journals Workforce preparedness for disasters: perceptions of clinical and non-clinical staff at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aram Dobalian ◽  
Michelle D. Balut ◽  
Claudia Der-Martirosian
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Narrow Scope ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
Workforce Preparedness ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Background Most U.S. studies on workforce preparedness have a narrow scope, focusing primarily on perceptions of clinical staff in a single hospital and for one type of disaster. In contrast, this study compares the perceptions of workplace disaster preparedness among both clinical and non-clinical staff at all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities nationwide for three types of disasters (natural, epidemic/pandemic, and manmade). Methods The VA Preparedness Survey used a stratified simple random, web-based survey (fielded from October through December 2018) of all employees at VA medical facilities. We conducted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to compare the sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions of disaster preparedness between clinical and non-clinical VA staff. Results The study population included 4026 VA employees (2488 clinicians and 1538 non-clinicians). Overall, VA staff were less confident in their medical facility’s ability to respond to epidemic/pandemics and manmade disasters. Depending on the type of disaster, clinical staff, compared to non-clinical staff, were less likely to be confident in their VA medical facility’s ability to respond to natural disasters (OR:0.78, 95% CI:0.67–0.93, p < 0.01), pandemics (OR:0.82, 95% CI:0.70–0.96, p < 0.05), and manmade disasters (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63–0.86, p < 0.001). On the other hand, clinicians, compared to non-clinicians, were 1.45 to 1.78 more likely to perceive their role in disaster response to be important (natural OR:1.57, 95% CI:1.32–1.87; pandemic OR:1.78, 95% CI:1.51–2.10; manmade: OR:1.45; 95% CI: 1.23–1.71; p’s < 0.001), and 1.27 to 1.29 more likely to want additional trainings to prepare for all three types of disasters (natural OR:1.29, 95% CI:1.10–1.51; pandemic OR:1.27, 95% CI:1.08–1.49; manmade OR:1.29; 95% CI:1.09–1.52; p’s < 0.01). Clinicians were more likely to be women, younger, and more educated (p’s < 0.001) than non-clinicians. Compared to clinicians, non-clinical staff had been employed longer with the VA (p < 0.025) and were more likely to have served in the U.S. Armed Forces (p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest both a desire and a need for additional training, particularly for clinicians, and with a focus on epidemics/pandemics and manmade disasters. Training programs should underscore the importance of non-clinical roles when responding to disasters.

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