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Veteran's Beat: Recovery act funding covers medical center improvements

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June 9, 2010

by Ron Seman

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric R. Shinseki visited the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center May 28 and received a first-hand update on Recovery Act-funded projects that will help veterans access VA care and provide surgical ward upgrades. The Cleveland VA Medical Center provides both inpatient and outpatient health care services at two facilities located in Cleveland at Wade Park and Brecksville.

"In putting America back to work, we are targeting the programs of greatest interest to veterans, including the improvement of our heath care facilities like those here in Cleveland," said Shinsneki.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $15.2 million to design, construct, upgrade and renovate veteran health care services at the medical center. These projects and their approximate costs include: $8.3 million to renovate surgical areas; $2 million to renovate the elevator lobby; $2.1 million for Canteen improvements; $1.1 million for hematology and oncology; departments; $1.3 million for additional patient care improvements and $502,429 for energy conservation measures.

It is estimated that the ARRA funding at the Cleveland VAMC has created more than 500 jobs for Ohioans.

Other provisions of the law allow VA to award construction contracts at many of its 153 VA medical centers and 130 national cemeteries.

Detailed information about each VA project is available at www.va.gov/recovery and www.recovery.org.

Other news about VA programs includes this information: Nine out of 10 veterans have never been tested for HIV. That's going to change, we're told. Every year, the U.S. marks June 27 as National HIV Testing Day.

This year, VA is going one better. VA Testing Week will be observed from June 27 to July 3. The week will kick off a sustained effort to increase HIV testing throughout VHA, with a goal of diagnosing those veterans with HIV and providing them with the care they need.

It is a well-known fact that HIV testing saves lives. It's as cost-effective as screening for colon cancer or diabetes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends making HIV testing part of routine medical care. So does the American College of Physicians. And so does VA -- routine voluntary HIV testing is now official VA policy.

Therefore, the VA wants to make HIV testing a clinical reflex in VA. Why? To minimize the number of veterans in VA care with undiagnosed HIV infection,.

The VA last August removed the requirements for written informed consent and scripted pre-test counseling before HIV testing. Patients now just receive a short educational pamphlet and give verbal consent. With these barriers removed, the rest is up the individual veteran. The VA encourages all veterans in VA health care to participate in voluntary HIV testing.

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Harley's Heroes: So many veterans feel confused about benefits and services they've earned. There's so much to know -- and so many changes from one year to the next.

That's why the nonprofit DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the Harley-Davidson Foundation have teamed up to offer help. The DAV Mobile Service Office will be at the South East Harley-Davidson Sales Company, 23105 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 12, to personally provide the best counseling and claim filing assistance available.

This event is part of the nationwide Harley's Heroes tour and is free to all veterans and members of their families. For more information, contact DAV National Service Officer David Bilinovich at 216-522-350.

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5K Flag Day Race: The National Racing Club presents the Ohio Teamsters Sports Committee, Inc./Medical Mutual 5K Flag Day Race and 2 Mile Walk on June 16, at 7 p.m. "Come celebrate with us our U.S. Army's 235th birthday. For more information, call Carl Schneider at 440-543-9238, or Andy, 440-946-8705. Proceeds from the event will benefit the USO of Northern Ohio.

Info: News items for use in this column can be mailed to Ron Seman, 5811 Renwood Drive, Parma, OH 44129, or e-mail: SemanRJ@aol.com. Thanks.

God Bless our men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and at other trouble spots around the globe.




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