Top 10 News For Veterans from Around the Country 08-12-08

1. National Hotline Thought To Have Saved Hundreds Of Lives.  
2. VA Helping States Prepare To Assist Veterans.  
3. Meeting Discusses Possible Locations For New Orleans VA Hospital.  
4. Cancer Program Suspended At Philadelphia VAMC.  
5. Indiana Veterans To Compete In Golden Age Games.  
6. Tuerk, Kentucky Governor To Dedicate New Cemetery.  
7. VA Official Nominated To Replace Outgoing OPM Director.  
8. Kansas City Facility Seen As Outlet For Reluctant Vets.  
9. VA To Take Over Paying Workers At Three Florida Nursing Homes.  
10. VA Provides Advanced Prosthetic To Iraq Vet.  

1.      National Hotline Thought To Have Saved Hundreds Of Lives.   Voice Of America (8/12, Phillips) reported, "Studies indicate that American war veterans are far more likely to commit suicide than non-veterans," but "getting emergency help and counseling services has been difficult or impossible for many vets." The situation, however, may now "be improving…thanks to a national suicide prevention hotline put in place last year by the US Department of Veterans Affairs." Since "it opened in August 2007, counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Hotline have fielded about 55,000 telephone calls from vets in trouble or their loved ones." Janet Kemp, who coordinates the program, "estimates that, so far, the service has sent about 4600 calls out to local suicide prevention coordinators, resulting in the actual prevention of at least 720 imminent suicides." Voice of America adds that the hotline "has launched a national campaign to convey the idea that calling the hotline is a sign of strength."

2.      VA Helping States Prepare To Assist Veterans.   The AP (8/13) reports, "Some New Hampshire officials are in Maryland this week for a conference geared at helping veterans returning from the war." The Veterans Affairs and Defense Department, along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "are holding the session to help states meet the needs of veterans and their families. New Hampshire is 1 of 10 states picked to be part of the conference."

3.      Meeting Discusses Possible Locations For New Orleans VA Hospital.   On its website, WWL-TV New Orleans (8/12, Farris) reported that on Tuesday afternoon, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Veterans Affairs, "state officials, economic development groups and historic preservation leaders" met in New Orleans to discuss where a new VA hospital will be built. The discussion "is required by federal law to see how a new construction project could impact historical properties." Several possible locations were discussed, but the "state is concerned if the VA moves to the closed Lindy Boggs Hospital or near Ochsner on Jefferson Highway, from the proposed shared site with its new academic hospital near downtown, it would be costly." WWL added, "A final decision" on the VA facility "could be made by October."

4.      Cancer Program Suspended At Philadelphia VAMC.   In continuing coverage, WTXF-TV Philadelphia (8/12, 5:46 p.m. ET) broadcast, "A program to treat prostate cancer patients" at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center "has been suspended." A review "found more than 100 people may have gotten wrong dosages of radiation over the past six years. Two of the patients have since died. A hospital spokesman says it is not clear if the possible error played any role in their deaths."
      WTVC-TV Chattanooga, TN (8/12, 5:55 p.m. ET), WTVT-TV Tampa (8/12, 5:41 p.m. ET), and WJZ-TV Baltimore (8/12, 5:40 p.m. ET) broadcast similar reports, while the AP (8/13) publishes a similar one. The suspension is also noted as the lead story in the "Health Highlights" column for both the Washington Post (8/13) and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/13).

5.      Indiana Veterans To Compete In Golden Age Games.   The Indianapolis Star (8/13, Mudd) reports twenty four "veterans from Indiana are among more than 750, age 55 and older, who have registered to compete at the 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games in Indianapolis, Indiana, August 20 — 24, 2008." The games, which are hosted this year by the Indianapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, "are the largest sports and rehabilitation event in the world for military veterans." The Star adds, "The event is co-sponsored" by the VA, "Help Hospitalized Veterans and Veterans Canteen Service."

6.      Tuerk, Kentucky Governor To Dedicate New Cemetery.   The Cincinnati Enquirer (8/13) reports Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and US Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) will join US Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary William Tuerk "Aug. 22 in dedicating the new veterans cemetery in Grant County, according" to the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.

7.    VA Official Nominated To Replace Outgoing OPM Director.   The Washington Post (8/13, D1, Davidson, 696K) reports Linda Springer "says good-bye" Wednesday to the Office of Personnel Management. After three years as OPM director, Springer is leaving to take a position with Ernst & Young. President Bush "has nominated Michael Hager, the Veterans Affairs assistant secretary for human resources and administration, to replace Springer."

8.    Kansas City Facility Seen As Outlet For Reluctant Vets.   On its website, KSHB-TV Kansas City, MO (8/12, Seward) reported that while "5,500 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans safely have returned to families in Kansas City," half "need monthly medical attention." But a "growing number refuse to visit" the Department of Veterans Affairs because they are too ashamed to seek help. That "is where the Vet Center comes in. Inside their offices on Armour Boulevard, counselors offer free services specifically for Iraq-Afghanistan war vets." The center is funded by the VA, but it uses community-based leadership, so it provides a "friendly atmosphere," according to Iraq vet Marshal Dial.

9.    VA To Take Over Paying Workers At Three Florida Nursing Homes.   The Southwest (FL) Herald Tribune (8/13, Gulliver) reports, "On Tuesday, PhyAmerica Government Services, a medical staffing firm, filed notices with the state" of Florida "saying it planned to lay off 208 employees working at 3 sites, with 72 from Port Charlotte." The employees "work at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ three newest nursing homes, including the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte. When the homes opened, the department contracted with PhyAmerica to provide staffing and operate the homes." But VA officials "found that resident satisfaction and quality inspections were better in three other homes where employees worked directly for the department, spokeswoman Courtney Heidelberg said. So the department requested and received the state Legislature’s approval to cancel the contracts and return the homes to state management, she said."

10.    VA Provides Advanced Prosthetic To Iraq Vet.   On its website, KGO-TV San Francisco (8/12, Johnson) reported bionic technology known as the "Power Knee," a prosthetic "developed specifically for above-knee amputees," is "now helping disabled veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan regain their stride." Iraq veteran Cristian Valle, a resident of Livermore, California, "is one of the first" patients in Northern California to get the device. Louis Givens from the Veterans Affairs medical center in Palo Alto, fitted Valle with the prosthetic.