Veteran Health

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steven Fu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and Director of the VA Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research (CCDOR), about Veteran Health.

Dr. Fu's research focuses on smoking cessation and tobacco-related health disparities, particularly among diverse and disadvantaged populations. His work aims to improve the delivery and utilization of tobacco dependence treatments, ensuring better health outcomes for those who have served. With an extensive background in medicine and public health, Dr. Fu brings valuable insights into the challenges and advancements in Veteran healthcare.

Join us for an enlightening discussion on Veteran Health, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on improving care for those who have served.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at huemanpartnership.org.

Research

Basic Statistics of Veteran Health (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1383845/chronic-pain-adults-prevalence-by-veteran-status-us/)

Leading causes of death

Heart disease
Cancers
COVID-19
Unintentional injuries
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
Stroke
Suicide
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s Disease
Chronic Liver Disease and cirrhosis

27.5% of veterans in chronic pain vs only 19.2% of general population
Estimated number of unsheltered homeless veterans= 15,507
Percentage of veterans who rates their current overall health as excellent= 6%

Mental Health On the Rise

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that approximately 20% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan experience PTSD or depression.
The number of veterans receiving mental health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs increased 90% from FY 2006-2019. During this time, VA's mental health budget increased from $2.4 to $8.9 billion.
VA projects a 32% increase in outpatient mental health care over 10 years
Preventing suicide is VA's highest priority; veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide
VA conducts outreach to raise awareness of mental health services, yet some veterans may remain unaware
Telehealth visits for mental health increased by over 200% in the first 8 months of the pandemic

The VA System: The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency of the federal government that provides benefits, health care, and cemetery services to military Veterans. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a cabinet-level official, is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. VA is the federal government’s second largest department after the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for initial Veteran registration, eligibility determination, and administration of VA's five key lines of non-medical benefits.

Home Loan Guarantee
Insurance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Education
Compensation and Pension

The Veterans Health Administration provides care at 1,380 health care facilities, including 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,193 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity
Over 9.1 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.