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Transcript of Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources for Veterans Terri Ottosen Consumer...
Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources
for Veterans
Terri OttosenConsumer Health Outreach Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern Atlantic Region
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Objectives:
• Understand the unique information needs of veterans and their families
• Utilize resources presented to locate reliable, authoritative health information specific to veterans
• Acquire skills and knowledge to effectively identify and assess resources not covered in the class
Considerations
• Unique group with unique life events and experiences
• Skills and coping mechanisms developed during service may be counterproductive or misunderstood in civilian life
• Readjustment is a major challenge• Families, friends, caregivers may need
assistance coping with changes• Extensive information needs relating to all of
the above
Informational Needs
• 8 million Vietnam Veterans• 6.7 million World War II Veterans• 4.3 million Korean conflict Veterans• 697,000 Gulf War Veterans• 1.4 million Afghanistan/Iraq• Greater rates of diabetes/overweight/obese• 1/3 U.S. veterans suffer from arthritis
Informational Needs
• Polytrauma• Chronic Disease• Traumatic Brain Injury• Spinal Cord Injury• Limb Loss• Eye injuries• PTSD and other mental health issues• Health care benefits, insurance, financial
issues
Informational Needs
• Number of uninsured veterans ~2 million• Rose 2x as fast as the uninsured general
population• In Jan. 2003, health care access cut off to
future veterans earning more than $30-35,000 annually on average
• Only a minority of veterans (those disabled by military service) are automatically eligible for VA care
Informational Needs
• 1/3 U.S. Military personnel war in Iraq access mental health services after returning home
• Prevalence rates of mental health concerns higher for Iraq veterans – 19.1% vs. 11.3% Afghanistan and 8.5% from other locations
• Veterans suffering depression are 7-8x more likely to commit suicide than general population: 90:100,000 vs. 13.5:100,000
Informational Needs
• VA and aid groups bracing for new surge in homeless veterans in years ahead
• Contributing factors:– High rates of PTSD– Traumatic brain injury which can cause unstable
behavior and substance abuse– Long and repeated tours of duty which makes
reintegration into families and work harder
Informational Needs
• Veterans: 11% adult population yet 16% of the homeless on any given day
• In 2006, 196,000 veterans of all ages were homeless on any given night (2012 ~60,000)
• Chronic cases (homeless for > year) 44,000-64,000 veteransPresident has set goal to eliminate problem by 2015
• Health information needs greater than general population?
General Health Resources
• Evaluating what’s out there on the Internet• M+ : Evaluating Health Information• M+ : Guide to Healthy Web Surfing• Key Points: Who runs/pays for the site? What
is the purpose? Source of info? Reviewed? Current? How are links to other sites chosen? User info collected? Able to contact? Accurate?
MedEd Portal
• Association of American Medical Colleges: Serving Those Who Serve America
• Designed to help providers• Joining Forces: Basic Training: A Primer on Mili
tary Life and Culture for HCPs and Trainees• Respository for sharing educational activities
and programs that address caring for military personnel, their families and veterans
General Resources
• ClinicalTrials.gov• Disability Information• MedlinePlus: Veterans and Mil
itary Health
General Military Health Resources• MyHealthE Vet• Deployment Health Clinical Center• VA Polytrauma System of Care• Disabled American Veterans• Deployment Health and Family Readiness Libr
ary• Traumatic Brain Injury• Veterans and Military Health: Websites Servin
g NC
Mental Health Resources
• Dept. of Veterans Affairs Vet Center• National Center for Posttraumatic Str
ess Disorder• Mental Health Self-Assessment Progr
am• VA Mental Health
Support Groups and Organizations
• Citizen Soldier Support Program• Wounded Warrior Project
–Directory
• Military Homefront• Military Onesource• Amputee Coalition of America• National Amputation Foundation
Demographic Group Resources
• VA Women Veterans Health Care• Center for Minority Veterans• National Native American Veterans A
ssociation• BlackMilitaryWorld• LGBT – SLDN and MPFC
Spinal Cord Injuries and Disease Resources
• National Spinal Cord Injury Association
• SPINALCORD: Spinal Cord Injury Information Network
• M+ Interactive Tutorial: Spinal Cord Injuries
Chronic Disease Resources
• (WHO) World Health Organization: Chronic Diseases
• (CDC) Centers for Disease Control: Chronic Disease Prevention
Benefits Resources
• IRIS: Inquiry Routing and Information System (Veterans Affairs)
• GovBenefits.gov
Health Insurance and Consumer Assistance
• Navigating the Health Care System: A Resource Guide for Consumers
• Insurance Options and Help (Healthcare.gov)
• Healthcare411
Current Awareness and Other Resources
• House Committee on Veterans Affairs Activities
• Veterans History Project• Institute of Medicine: Health of Veterans and
Deployed Forces• Blogs: Readers: FeedDemon or Google Reader
– Military Blogs (Milblogs)
Libraries Can Help
• Develop collections that…o provide support for returning soldiers and
their families o provide information on specific conditions and
information about claiming benefits o educate and inform the public
• Create pathfinder or LibGuide for online information resources
o local, state, federal resources
Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples
http://libraryschool.campusguides.com/sandiegoveteranresources
Possibilities? Ideas?
• Increase library staff knowledge of resources and services for veterans
• Work with academic support services to coordinate enhanced delivery of VA education benefits information and counseling
• Provide a veteran-specific orientation to introduce new military/veteran students to library programs and services
• Support or “sponsor” a veteran organization
• Connect with existing groups to identify ways to support
• Offer a military/veteran student gathering place
• Offer an online course designed to help student veterans become familiar with campus programs, resources, and services
Conclusions
• Veterans are a unique segment of American population.
• Government agencies, educational institutions, and libraries can all contribute to veterans’ success transitioning to civilian life and academic life.
• Libraries are uniquely positioned to function as “portals” to information and services that benefit veterans and their families.
Thank You!
Questions or Comments? National Network of Libraries of
Medicine
800-338-7657or email: Terri