OPEN DIALOGUE FORUM 

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Join us to talk about

Improving Care for the Veterans Population

Thursday May 30, 2024
6 pm - 7:30 pm EST

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The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in a significant increase in the veteran population, creating unique healthcare challenges and needs. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has faced strain in providing timely care, prompting Congress to pass the MISSION Act in 2018, allowing veterans to access healthcare services outside the VHA through the VA Community Care (VACC) program. While well-intentioned, the expansion of care into the community overlooks the specific healthcare needs of veterans, particularly in the context of the unique challenges arising from military service. ANA has historically supported increased access to care for veterans and, in response to the MISSION Act expansion, should reinvest efforts to ensure that United States veterans receive appropriate healthcare services. Veterans, with their distinct determinants of health and increased rates of mental health disorders and exposure-related illnesses, require healthcare providers, including Registered Nurses, to undergo specialized training and education for the detection and treatment of these challenges to improve healthcare outcomes. This policy proposal outlines recommendations for action to ensure that all healthcare providers are adequately prepared to provide the highest level of care to this specific patient population.

Connecticut Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation