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Ebrahim Barkoudah is the executive health adviser to Military Veterans of America and the system chief and regional chief/medical quality officer at Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachusetts. Andrew Vernon, who was raised in Presque Isle, is the founder and chief executive officer of Military Veterans of America. Alisa Andrews is an intern at Military Veterans of America and is pursuing a master of public health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Shenika Vilton is a senior vice president at Military Veterans of America.
In the fabric of American values, the figure of a soldier stands not only as a beacon of courage on the battlefield but also embodies our nation’s solemn pledge to those who serve. Central to this covenant is the assurance of comprehensive and compassionate health care for our veterans upon their return home. However, the journey to fulfilling this promise is fraught with challenges within the intricate maze of the U.S. health care system. Veterans often encounter myriad obstacles in accessing the care they deserve. While the Department of Veterans Affairs strives valiantly to fulfill its mission, it faces significant hurdles in delivering the specialized care necessary to address returning service members’ complex physical and psychological needs.
The VA health care system was established out of an essential need to provide care tailored to the unique conditions experienced by those who have endured the trials of military service. Despite its critical role, the system is hampered by legacy issues, including bureaucratic inefficiencies, outdated infrastructure and more.
It is crucial to emphasize people, ideas, policies and priorities. This includes the priorities of the VA secretary, the VA under secretary of health, the Veterans Health Administration long range plan and alignment with the VA strategic plan.
For instance, should women’s health take precedence over dental care, considering the significant increase in women veterans enrolling in recent years? Another consideration is whether infrastructure should be a higher priority over community care, focusing on building what VA does best and outsourcing other services, as community care tends to be costly and can strain the VA budget and American tax dollars. According to an article titled “A Review of Military Health Research Using a Social Ecological Framework” in the American Journal of Health Promotion, comparatively little research focuses on the family, community, or institutional tiers. These systemic challenges manifest in various ways, such as extended wait times for appointments, overflowing urgent cares and ERs, facilities that fall short of modern health care standards and distressingly high rates of veteran suicide.
The veteran community is a rich mosaic of individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, each with distinct experiences and health needs. We see how access to care, assistance with claims, compensation of employees, and more significantly impact how veterans and families are serviced in all VA facilities and community hospitals. Policies impact staffing directly and indirectly, aiming to protect veterans during their medical care, uphold high clinical standards like accurate diagnosis and treatment, ensure equitable access to care regardless of background and facilitate coordinated care across providers. To address these challenges presently and in the future, one solution is to leverage unmatched physicians from residency programs post-medical school in the VA health care system. Collaboration with VA and other entities can help establish or support such initiatives.
Recognizing the limitations of the VA system alone in meeting the full spectrum of veterans’ health care needs, there is a growing movement among nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups to supplement and enhance the support provided to our nation’s heroes. Military Veterans of America is dedicated to bridging the gap between the services available through VA and the unmet needs within the veteran community. Through education, advocacy and direct support, Military Veterans of America endeavors to create a more inclusive and effective network of care that reaches every Veteran in need.
In the realm of veteran care, a cluster of nonprofit organizations shines brightly, offering hope and transformative healing beyond federal obligations. Among these entities, Military Veterans shows unwavering dedication to veterans and their families mental and physical well-being. This nonprofit introduces pioneering strategies that focus on resilience, growth and harnessing the inherent strengths of veterans. With a forward-looking perspective on health care evolution, the organization remains vigilant through continuous environmental monitoring and global market research, ensuring alignment with best practices for offering informed recommendations to national governing bodies and policymakers.
A collective effort involving government entities, nonprofits, advocacy groups and the broader community is essential to pursuing comprehensive and compassionate health care for our veterans. By recognizing and addressing the challenges within the VA health care system, advocating for policy reforms, and fostering innovative approaches, we can pave the way for a more empathetic and efficient support network for those who have served our nation.