The US Department of Veterans Affairs and Sustainable Health Care Coalitions

Dobalian, Aram

doi:10.1017/dmp.2015.136

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In addition to providing healthcare for veterans, the United States Veterans Health Administration (VHA), part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is charged with improving the Nation’s preparedness for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to veterans, as well as supporting national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts 1 , 2 , 3. Under the National Response Framework of the United States (U.S.), VHA has support responsibility under 7 of the 15 Emergency Support Functions including emergency management, public health, and medical services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development of a Veterans Health Administration Emergency Management Research Agenda

et al. 2017

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Introduction: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated healthcare delivery system in the United States, is charged with ensuring timely access to high-quality care for veterans during disasters, and supporting national, state, local, and tribal emergency management and homeland security efforts. In 2008, the VHA Office of Public Health (OPH) sponsored the first VHA Emergency Management Research Agenda-setting conference to develop research priorities that address the needs of veterans and to position VHA as a national leader in emergency management by having VHA serve as a "laboratory" for the development of evidence-based emergency management practices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development of a Veterans Health Administration Emergency Management Research Agenda

et al. 2017

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“…2,4 Nonetheless, creating healthy, functioning collaborative relationships remains challenging. 2,5 As a federal health care system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) combines health and government responsibilities to provide care before, during, and after emergencies. It adheres to the same accreditation emergency management requirements as private hospitals, while additionally being tasked to support the National Disaster Medical System when requested by the federal government.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…6 Therefore, VHA requires emergency managers (EMs) at all Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) to prepare their facilities for disasters, including collaborating with local community partners (eg, response agencies, health care facilities, community organizations). 5 Yet, despite national efforts to promote VAMC-community joint preparedness, a perception remains that it is challenging to engage VAMCs in partnerships with their communities. 2,5,7 In 2012, the Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center initiated a study to understand the nature and scope of emergency management collaborations between VAMCs and local non-VA organizations.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…5 Yet, despite national efforts to promote VAMC-community joint preparedness, a perception remains that it is challenging to engage VAMCs in partnerships with their communities. 2,5,7 In 2012, the Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center initiated a study to understand the nature and scope of emergency management collaborations between VAMCs and local non-VA organizations. We explored how the status of VAMCs as federal entities affects collaborative work with local governmental and nongovernmental entities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It adheres to the same accreditation emergency management requirements as private hospitals, while additionally being tasked to support the National Disaster Medical System when requested by the federal government 6 . Therefore, VHA requires emergency managers (EMs) at all Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) to prepare their facilities for disasters, including collaborating with local community partners (eg, response agencies, health care facilities, community organizations) 5 . Yet, despite national efforts to promote VAMC–community joint preparedness, a perception remains that it is challenging to engage VAMCs in partnerships with their communities 2…”

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Facilitators and Barriers to Preparedness Partnerships: A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Perspective

Schmitz

Wyte-Lake

Dobalian

2017

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Three case studies of community behavioral health support from the US Department of Veterans Affairs after disasters

Wyte-Lake

Schmitz²,

Kornegay

et al. 2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Community disaster resilience is comprised of a multitude of factors, including the capacity of citizens to psychologically recover. There is growing recognition of the need for public health departments to prioritize a communitywide mental health response strategy to facilitate access to behavioral health services and reduce potential psychological impacts. Due to the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) extensive experience providing trauma-informed behavioral healthcare to its Veterans, and the fact that VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) are located throughout the United States, the VA is well situated to be a key partner in local communities’ response plans. In this study we examined the role the VA can play in a community’s behavioral health response using case studies from three disasters. Methods This study investigated experiences of VA employees in critical emergency response positions (N = 17) in communities where disasters occurred between 2017 and 2019. All respondents were interviewed March–July 2019. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences and knowledge about VA activities provided to communities following the regional disasters. Data were analyzed using thematic and grounded theory coding methods. Results Respondents underscored VA’s primary mission after a disaster was to maintain continuity of care to Veterans. The majority also described the VA supporting community recovery. Specifically, three recent events provided key examples of VA’s involvement in disaster behavioral health response. Each event showed VA’s integration into local response structures was facilitated by pre-existing emergency management and clinical relationships as well as prioritization from VA leadership to engage in humanitarian missions. The behavioral health interventions were provided by behavioral health teams integrated into disaster assistance centers and non-VA hospitals, VA mobile units deployed into the community, and VA telehealth services. Conclusions Recent disasters have revealed that coordinated efforts between multidisciplinary agencies can strengthen communities’ capacity to respond to mental health needs, thereby fostering resilience. Building relationships with local VAMCs can help expedite how VA can be incorporated into emergency management strategies. In considering the strengths community partners can bring to bear, a coordinated disaster mental health response would benefit from involving VA as a partner during planning.

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The US Department of Veterans Affairs and Sustainable Health Care Coalitions

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

The Development of a Veterans Health Administration Emergency Management Research Agenda

The Development of a Veterans Health Administration Emergency Management Research Agenda

Facilitators and Barriers to Preparedness Partnerships: A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Perspective

Three case studies of community behavioral health support from the US Department of Veterans Affairs after disasters

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