scholarly journals Ethical Applications of Artificial Intelligence: Evidence from Veterans’ Health Research (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Makridis ◽  
Seth Hurley ◽  
Mary Klote ◽  
Gil Alterovitz
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Subject Matter Experts ◽  
Technology Governance ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
Potential Benefits

UNSTRUCTURED There is widespread agreement that, while artificial intelligence offers significant potential benefits for individuals and society at large, there are also serious challenges to overcome with respect to its governance. Recent policymaking has focused on establishing principles for the trustworthy use of AI. Adhering to these principles is especially important to adhere to protect vulnerable groups and ensure their confidence in the technology and its uses. Using the Department of Veterans Affairs as a case study, we focus on three principles of particular interest: (i) designing, developing, acquiring, and using AI where the benefits of use significantly outweigh the risks and the risks are assessed and managed, (ii) ensuring that the application of AI occurs in well-defined domains and are accurate, effective, and fit for intended purposes, and (iii) ensure the operations and outcomes of AI applications are sufficiently interpretable and understandable by all subject matter experts, users, and others. We argue that these principles and applications apply to vulnerable groups more generally and that adherence to them can allow the VA and other organizations to continue modernizing its technology governance, leveraging the gains of AI and managing its risks.

Transformation of the US Veterans Health Administration

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan B. Perlin
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Veterans Health Administration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
The Us

Ten years ago, it would have been hard to imagine the publication of an issue of a scholarly journal dedicated to applying lessons from the transformation of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Health System to the renewal of other countries' national health systems. Yet, with the recent publication of a dedicated edition of the Canadian journal Healthcare Papers (2005), this actually happened. Veterans Affairs health care also has been similarly lauded this past year in the lay press, being described as ‘the best care anywhere’ in the Washington Monthly, and described as ‘top-notch healthcare’ in US News and World Report's annual health care issue enumerating the ‘Top 100 Hospitals’ in the United States (Longman, 2005; Gearon, 2005).

scholarly journals The Regional Distribution of Psychiatric Residency Positions Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Its Relationship to Rural Veteran Populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Vincenti ◽  
Anthony Albanese ◽  
Edward Bope ◽  
Bradley V. Watts
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Psychiatry Residency ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Psychiatric Residency ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Rural Patient

Abstract Objective The authors evaluated the distribution of psychiatry residency positions funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs between 2014 and 2020 with respect to geographic location and hospital patient population rurality. Methods The authors collected data on psychiatry residency positions from the Veterans Affairs’ Office of Academic Affiliations Support Center and data on hospital-level patient rurality from the Veterans Health Administration Support Service Center. They examined the chronological and geospatial relationships between the number of residency positions deployed and the size of the rural patient populations served. Results Between 2014 and 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs has substantially increased the number of rural hospitals hosting psychiatry residency programs, as well as the number of residency positions at those hospitals. However, several geographic regions serve high numbers of rural veterans with few or no psychiatry resident positions. Conclusions While the VA efforts to increase psychiatry residency positions in rural areas have been partially successful, additional progress can be made increasing support for psychiatry trainees at Veterans Affairs hospitals and community-based outpatient clinics that serve large portions of the rural veteran population.

scholarly journals 918Building the evidence base for australia’s veteran population

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Gates ◽  
Mark Petricevic ◽  
Patrick Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Service Use ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Service Type ◽  
Administrative Datasets ◽  
Specific Health

Abstract Background There is a wealth of existing research on Australia’s veteran population. However, much of the existing research seeks to answer questions on specific issues, veterans of specific conflicts, or of veterans who use the Department of Veterans’ Affairs services, with little to no information beyond these specific populations. Methods Several large administrative datasets including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS), Causes of Death and Specialist Homelessness Services were linked with Defence information to enable analysis of veterans’ information against a range of topics, such as cause of death, health service and homelessness service use. Comparisons were made between the Australian Population as a whole and the veteran population. Results Results show some similarities and some differences between the veteran population and the whole Australian population. Results are disaggregated between those who are currently serving, in the reserves and ex-serving as well as by service type and other variables. Conclusions These results have helped to improve what is known about the broader veteran community. They provide important context for policy makers to understand how best to service the veteran community that was previously unknown, and help identify areas for more detailed research and exploration. Key messages Data linkage provides an important opportunity to understand the specific health and welfare needs of veterans who are otherwise difficult to identify in large administrative datasets. Comparison of veterans’ health and welfare service use with the broader Australian population provides important information for policy makers.

scholarly journals Space-Time Cluster Analysis to Detect Innovative Clinical Practices: A Case Study of Aripiprazole in the Department of Veterans Affairs

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-235
Author(s):  
Robert B. Penfold ◽  
James F. Burgess ◽  
Austin F. Lee ◽  
Mingfei Li ◽  
Christopher J. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Clinical Practices

scholarly journals Legionella in the veterans healthcare system: report of an eight-year survey

2003 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 835-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. KELLY ◽  
L. H. DANKO ◽  
S. M. KRALOVIC ◽  
L. A. SIMBARTL ◽  
G. A. ROSELLE
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
The United States ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Healthcare Associated

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs tracks legionella disease in the system of 172 medical centres and additional outpatient clinics using an annual census for reporting. In fiscal year 1999, 3·62 million persons were served by the VHA. From fiscal year 1989–1999, multiple intense interventions were carried out to decrease the number of cases and case rates for legionella disease. From fiscal year 1992–1999, the number of community-acquired and healthcare-associated cases decreased in the VHA by 77 and 95·5% respectively (P=0·005 and 0·01). Case rates also decreased significantly for community and healthcare-associated cases (P=0·02 and 0·001, respectively), with the VHA healthcare-associated case rates decreasing at a greater rate than VHA community-acquired case rates (P=0·02). Over the time of the review, the VHA case rates demonstrated a greater decrease compared to the case rates for the United States as a whole (P=0·02). Continued surveillance, centrally defined strategies, and local implementation can have a positive outcome for prevention of disease in a large, decentralized healthcare system.

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