Veterans Affairs launches initiative to assist aging veterans reliving the traumas of their war experiences
December 28, 2010 - The Vietnam veteran dying of lung cancer was cowering in the corner, emotionally distraught, unwilling to talk to anyone.
When the veteran arrived at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in central Pennsylvania a few days earlier, Dr. Scott Shreve asked if he was troubled by memories of his war experience.
"Yes," replied the veteran, gruffly.
Probing delicately, the palliative care physician asked if the man wanted to share some of his thoughts.
"No," the veteran responded, curtly.
Now, however, surging panic had broken through the patient's emotional defenses. Called by medical staff, several friends rushed to the hospital to help. Eventually, the veteran calmed down and agreed to accept help. He died a week later.
Shreve relates the story as he describes an extensive effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve end-of-life care for veterans. He oversees palliative care at the Lebanon hospital and directs hospice and palliative care nationally for the VA.
The initiative has gained momentum with the recent completion of a new training curriculum, the Education on Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Veterans Project, due to be rolled out to all 153 VA medical centers by the end of 2011. The goal is to educate VA doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and psychologists about the best practices for veterans who don't have long to live.
Shreve said a demographic imperative underlies the effort: This year, an estimated 670,000 former soldiers are expected to die of cancer, heart disease, strokes and other ailments. All veterans are entitled to hospice and palliative care under a national directive issued by the VA in 2008. {continued}
PROMISE project: Improving End-of-Life Care for Veterans -
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Hospice and Palliative Care for Veterans
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I appreciate the new initiative to improve end of life care for veterans. It is amazing that we have taken so long to bring the philosophy of hospice care to the people who fought for our freedom to provide it. I hope to find a way to incorporate the essence of the program into my training site for hospice volunteers. http://volunteertrainingonline.com/courses
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