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AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
PRAISES VA HEALTH CARE
(June 2, 2005)
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http://www.fednews-online.com/?publicationId=7945
An editorial in the May 18 edition of the Journal of American Medical Association described the Department of Veterans Affairs' health care system as a "bright star" compared to private sector systems.
"Our patients and staff know that VA's commitment to quality is second to none. It's gratifying when a top publication for health care professionals reaches the same conclusion," said James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The editorial specifically examines the progress -- or the lack thereof -- among private sector health care systems in issues affecting patient safety over the past five years.
VA's health care system "quickly emerged as a bright star in the constellation of safety practice, with system-wide implementation of safe practices, training programs and the establishment of four patient-safety research centers," according to the editorial.
JAMA is not the only publication praising VA's healthcare system:
* The Washington Monthly trumpeted VA as "The Best Care Anywhere" in January.
* The New England Journal of Medicine compared VA health care and fee-for-service Medicare in 11 specific quality measurements in its May 2003 edition, finding that VA patients faired "significantly better" than the private sector.
* The Annals of Internal Medicine stated in December 2004 that in seven specific quality measurements of diabetes care, the VA was ahead of the private sector in all seven categories.
* The National Committee for Quality Assurance ranked health care plans in 17 performance criteria in December 2004 and ranked VA above private-sector hospitals in all 17 categories.
With more than 180,000 health care professionals, VA operates the largest integrated health care system in the country. More than seven million veterans are enrolled in VA's system, and the Department expects
to treat about 5.2 million patients this year, including nearly 600,000 inpatient admissions and 54 million outpatient visits.
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