DAV Magazine — July/August 2017
VA women’s health program implements newbreast cancer screening guidelines
The Department of Veterans Affairs will now give women veterans the choice to receive breast cancer screenings at age 40, in line with the guidelines published by the American Cancer Society. According to the VA, the guidelines apply to women at average risk for breast cancer and will strengthen the extensive care programs already in place.
“It is important for our women veterans to know that they are in control of their care and the care they receive from VA is consistent with—or exceeds—care in the private sector,” said VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. “Adopting American Cancer Society standards gives veterans further assurances that their care aligns with other health care systems.”
According to American Cancer Society guidelines, “all women should begin having yearly mammograms at age 45 and can change to having mammograms every other year beginning at age 55. Women should have the choice to start screening with yearly mammograms as early as age 40 if they want to.” At this time, 76 percent of women veterans ages 40 to 49 enrolled in VA health care receive mammograms through the VA.
This adaptation to keep up with current recommendations comes alongside other initiatives by the VA that include the establishment of a breast cancer registry. The registry integrates data from several VA sources to provide comprehensive, patient-specific information about breast cancer screening, test results, treatment and population surveillance of breast care, both in the community and within the VA.
Center for Compassionate Innovation launches within VA
■ The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched the Center for Compassionate Innovation, aimed at exploring emerging therapies that may improve or enhance veterans’ mental and physical well-being.
According to the VA, the center will investigate innovations in the health care industry as well as new practices currently being piloted on a small scale within the VA.
The center is intended to create an entry point for sharing new treatments or therapies with the VA and focuses on cutting-edge treatments and therapies emerging in the health care industry.
At this time, it is focused primarily on personalized, proactive and patient-driven treatments that can address veteran suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.
“It is important for our women veterans to know that they are in control of their care and the care they receive from VA is consistent with—or exceeds—care in the private sector,” said VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. “Adopting American Cancer Society standards gives veterans further assurances that their care aligns with other health care systems.”
According to American Cancer Society guidelines, “all women should begin having yearly mammograms at age 45 and can change to having mammograms every other year beginning at age 55. Women should have the choice to start screening with yearly mammograms as early as age 40 if they want to.” At this time, 76 percent of women veterans ages 40 to 49 enrolled in VA health care receive mammograms through the VA.
This adaptation to keep up with current recommendations comes alongside other initiatives by the VA that include the establishment of a breast cancer registry. The registry integrates data from several VA sources to provide comprehensive, patient-specific information about breast cancer screening, test results, treatment and population surveillance of breast care, both in the community and within the VA.
Center for Compassionate Innovation launches within VA
■ The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched the Center for Compassionate Innovation, aimed at exploring emerging therapies that may improve or enhance veterans’ mental and physical well-being.
According to the VA, the center will investigate innovations in the health care industry as well as new practices currently being piloted on a small scale within the VA.
The center is intended to create an entry point for sharing new treatments or therapies with the VA and focuses on cutting-edge treatments and therapies emerging in the health care industry.
At this time, it is focused primarily on personalized, proactive and patient-driven treatments that can address veteran suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.
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