IOM TO INVESTIGATE VA MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
An IOM committee will comprehensively assess the
quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who
served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi
Freedom, or Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND). The IOM committee will assess the
spectrum of mental health services available across the entire US Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA). The scope of this assessment will include analysis not
only of the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the VA,
but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.
Types of
evidence to be considered by the IOM committee in its assessment include
relevant scientific literature and other documents, interviews with VA mental
health professionals, survey data to be provided by the VA, and results from
surveys of veterans to be conducted independently by the committee. Site visits
will be conducted to at least one VA medical center in each of 21 Veterans
Integrated Service Networks across the country.
In addition, the committee will
hold an open meeting of experts to discuss the Secretary's plan for the
development and implementation of performance metrics and staffing guidance.
The committee will provide a final report with recommendations to the Secretary
of the VA regarding overcoming barriers and improving access to mental health
care in the VA, as well as increasing effectiveness and efficiency.
The committee's first meeting was November 22, 2013. If you have concerns, the IOM welcomes public input. Contact the committee staff.
- Alicia Carriquiry, Chair
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