VA REPORT CARD:  

A new "hospital report card" by the Department of
>> Veterans Affairs (VA) gives the Department's health care system high
>> marks, with VA facilities often outscoring private-sector health plans in
>> standards commonly accepted by the health care industry. Among the
>> report's finding were:
>> . 98% of veterans were seen within 30 days at primary care facilities,
>> 97%
>> at specialty clinics.  (Veterans requiring emergency care are seen
>> immediately.)
>> . All of VA's 153 medical centers are accredited by the independent Joint
>> Commission which accredits all U.S. health care facilities.
>> . The quality scores for older veterans are similar to those for younger
>> veterans.
>>
>> Although screening for breast and cervical cancer for women in VA
>> facilities exceeds screening in private-sector facilities, women veterans
>> lag behind their male counterparts in some quality measurements, the
>> report noted.  VA has already launched an aggressive program to ensure
>> women veterans receive the highest quality of care, including placement
>> of
>> women advocates in every outpatient clinic and medical center.  Health
>> care will be a major topic at VA's National Summit on Women Veterans
>> Issues scheduled for 20-22 JUN in Washington. The report also found
>> minority veterans are generally less satisfied with inpatient and
>> outpatient care than white veterans.  That disparity will be the focus of
>> an in-depth study, based upon input from veterans, which will be
>> completed
>> this summer. The report card is available on the Internet at
>> http://www.va.gov/health/docs/Hospital_Quality_Report.pdf.  In FEB
>> Congress directed VA to complete the report card, highlighting
>> measurements of quality, safety, timeliness, efficiency and
>> patient-centeredness.  James Peake, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
>> noted that, "No other health care organization provides this much
>> information about its ability to care for its patients." [Source: VA News
>> Release 14 Jun 08 ++]
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