Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 6-11-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans

1. VA Launches Website For Vets In College.
2. VA Hospital To Welcome Home Iraq, Afghanistan Vets.
3. VA Facilities In Arizona To Receive Stimulus Money.
4. Utah VA Producing Video On Soldier Suicides.
5. Debate Surrounds Location Of New VA Hospital In Kentucky.
6. VA Hospital Congratulated For Winning Business Practices Award.
7. VA Offering Free Agent Orange Exposure Test.
8. Tuscaloosa VAMC Receives Money To Improve Services For Rural Vets.
9. Providence VAMC Working On Experimental Device For Paralyzed People.
10. Obama To Nominate Evans For VA Assistant Secretary.

1.      VA Launches Website For Vets In College. The third item in the syndicated ¨DSgt. Shaft column, appearing in the Washington Times (6/11, Fales, 74K), notes that the Department of Veterans Affairs ¨Dhas launched a new website ¨Dto strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts now studying on their campuses. The site ¨Dis one of several Internet-based ¨Dtools VA has developed to assist veterans in dealing with mental health issues. Others include a guide for families of military members returning from deployment and information about a suicide prevention hot line for veterans. 

2.      VA Hospital To Welcome Home Iraq, Afghanistan Vets. In continuing coverage, the Kingsport (TN) Times News (6/10, Hicks) said local ¨Dveterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are invited to a welcome home party at the Veterans Affairs medical center ¨Dat Mountain Home on Saturday. The Times News offered a quote from Melea Hunter, ¨Devent organizer and manager of the VA‘s OIF and OEF programs, who commented on the purpose of the day, saying, ¨DWe‘re trying to show the Iraqi and Afghan veterans that the VA is here for them too and we‘re wanting to serve them.  

3.      VA Facilities In Arizona To Receive Stimulus Money. On its website, KTAR-AM Phoenix, AZ (6/10, Cross) reported, ¨DTen new projects will define the next three months of the Obama Administration‘s ‗Recovery Act‘ in Arizona. According to KTAR, Federal ¨Dstimulus money…will pay for renovations at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Phoenix, while the Tucson Veterans Center ¨Dwill receive $350,000 to help soldiers coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq, who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. 

4.      Utah VA Producing Video On Soldier Suicides. KSL-TV Salt Lake City, UT (6/10, 12:19 p.m. MT) broadcast that the ¨DUtah Department of Veterans Affairs is producing a video to address a growing problem — soldiers committing suicide. The Utah VA ¨Dsays the videos should be done in a couple of months¡¬ and that it ¨Dwill provide copies to soldiers and their families who request them. KSL (6/10) also covered this story on its website. 

5.      Debate Surrounds Location Of New VA Hospital In Kentucky. On its website, WFPL-FM Louisville, KY (6/10, Sanders) reported, ¨DGovernment officials are awaiting the results of a feasibility study on potential sites for a new Veterans Affairs¡¬ hospital in Louisville. The study ¨Dwill look into three options for the facility: replace the existing hospital on Zorn Avenue, build an new hospital downtown, or build an in-patient facility downtown and an out-patient facility on Zorn. University of Louisville Vice-President for Health Affairs Dr. Larry Cook says it‘s most important for the facility to be near the downtown medical center,¡¬ but ¨Dopponents to the downtown location say the site is too busy and confusing for
veterans who will be visiting the hospital from other cities.¡¬ The VA hospital ¨Dwas the topic of discussion at Wednesday‘s Louisville Forum.  

6.      VA Hospital Congratulated For Winning Business Practices Award. The second item in the syndicated ¨DSgt. Shaft column, appearing in the Washington Times (6/11, Fales, 74K), offers congratulations to Fernando O. Rivera, director of the Veterans Affairs medical center in Washington, DC, ¨Dand his employees for being named as recipients of the ‗Medallion of Excellence,‘ the highest recognition presented by the US Senate Productivity and Quality Awards for Virginia. This ¨Daward uses the National Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria to rate organizations…on their business practices, reflecting visionary leadership, customer-driven operations, value of employees and partners, focus on results and innovation.‘ No organization has received this top honor since 2006, so this is a very special accomplishment.  

7.      VA Offering Free Agent Orange Exposure Test. KLFY-TV Lafayette, LA (6/10, 5:21 p.m. CT) broadcast, ¨DAn important health note for Vietnam veterans in Acadiana. Veterans advocates are urging that you contact the Department of Veterans Affairs ¨Dto be tested for exposure to Agent Orange. The VA ¨Dis now offering a free agent orange exposure test to veterans that could help them qualify for medical benefits. For more information on this free test, contact the VA hospital in Alexandria. 

8.      Tuscaloosa VAMC Receives Money To Improve Services For Rural Vets. The Tuscaloosa (AL) News (6/11, Grayson) reports, ¨DWith the help of a recent $3.5 million grant¡¬ from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center‘s ¨DAlabama Rural Health Program is launching three initiatives to reach out to veterans in rural West Alabama. The News notes the comments of Damon Stevenson, VA medical center spokesman, who said, ¨DWe‘re…excited about this opportunity to get veterans the ¨Dhealth care that they need and that‘s our goal, to expand access to health care to all Alabamians that have served our nation. In its ¨DBreaking News blog, the Birmingham (AL) News (6/10, Gordon) said that according to a ¨Dmedical center news release, about $2 million of the amount will help develop a Rural Health Resource Center in partnership with the University of Alabama‘s Center for Rural Health¡¬ and the Birmingham VAM. Meanwhile, about $1.1 million of the funding ¨Dwill help the Tuscaloosa VAMC ¨Destablish a home-based primary care team, and approximately ¨D$334,000 will help set up a mental health outreach team. Both teams will be based in a clinic in Selma that the Tuscaloosa VA plans to open in August. WCFT-TV Birmingham, AL (6/10, 6:10 p.m. CT) broadcast a similar story.  
 

9.      Providence VAMC Working On Experimental Device For Paralyzed People. The Boston Globe‘s (6/10, Cooney) ¨DWhite Coat Notes¡¬ blog reported, ¨DAn experimental device designed to help paralyzed people control computer cursors, robotic arms, or even wheelchairs just by thinking about moving them will be tested in a new hospital trial after Cyberkinetics, its private sector sponsor, ¨Dended its funding for the system in 2007 in favor of other medical devices. The ¨Dpilot BrainGate 2 trial, funded by Federal ¨Dgrants and led by doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital working with scientists at Brown University and the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, ¨Dis recruiting up to 15 participants who have become quadriplegics, the ¨Dcollaborative said¡¬ on Wednesday.  

10.    Obama To Nominate Evans For VA Assistant Secretary. The AP (6/11) reports, ¨DPresident Barack Obama says he will nominate Joan Evans, longtime chief of staff to former Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Evans served as Hooley‘s staff chief for 12 years, leaving in January when the veteran Democrat retired.¡¬ She ¨Dalso…was House director of Obama‘s inaugural committee, and in a statement, Obama ¨Dsaid…he was grateful that Evans agreed to serve in his administration.