As the largest health care provider in the United States, the Department of Defense faces significant challenges in maintaining quality health care for current and retired military personnel. RAND has a wealth of expertise in health and defense policy research, which informs its analyses related to the medical care needs of military veterans and the care systems intended to meet them.
Announcement
To celebrate our first 60 years, we created 60 Ways RAND Has Made a Difference, an online book to illustrate our most notable contributions. On our 65th birthday, we provide five of the most recent ways in which we at RAND are proud to have made a difference.
Report
This history looks at how humanity has cared for its war casualties and veterans, from ancient times through the aftermath of World War II.
Commentary
The act of caring for a veteran takes a physical, mental, and economic toll on caregivers and their families. Giving caregivers the skills and resources they need to cope and thrive should be as much a priority as giving veterans medical care.
News Release
Spouses, family members, and others who provide informal care to U.S. military members after they return home from conflict often toil long hours with little support, putting them at risk for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Report
Spouses, family members, and others who provide informal care to U.S. military members after they return home from conflict often toil long hours with little support, putting them at risk for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Journal Article
The authors redesigned an electronic clinical reminder to improve identification and management of Veterans at high risk for falls, and piloted the reminder in 3 Veterans Health Administration community-based outpatient clinics.
Blog
Former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, a RAND Trustee and Health Advisory Board member, published an open letter to President Obama in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week in which he asks the president to use his executive power to address the problem of medical errors.
Journal Article
This study explored challenges, facilitators, and progress of Peer Specialist implementation from a stakeholder group involved in their management.
Journal Article
Fee-for-service vs limited-budget worlds. Efficient care isn't necessarily less expensive care.
Report
The not-for-profit Wounded Warrior Project gives injured veterans access to programs to improve their health and economic outcomes. Participants are achieving the goal of not missing work due to physical health problems and have obesity rates proportionate to that of the U.S. population.
Commentary
As the nation struggles to confront the twin challenges of rising healthcare costs and uncertain quality, we should be willing to embrace innovative practices wherever they exist, whether they are developed in private, for-profit health care systems or so-called "socialized" ones, like Britain's NHS or America's VA, writes Art Kellermann.
Journal Article
Homeless veterans are a vulnerable population, with high mortality and morbidity rates. Evidence-based practices for homelessness have been challenging to implement.
Periodical
Ten RAND authors highlight seven ways in which the United States can help to ensure that veterans and their families receive health care, employment and education opportunities, and other benefits.
Report
Presents the results of an assessment of the Real Warriors Campaign, a multimedia program designed to promote resilience, facilitate recovery, and support the reintegration of returning servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
Journal Article
Quality of prescribing for older vets -- measured by high-risk medications and drug--disease interactions -- varies across VA facilities. Prescribing is better at facilities that care for a larger number of older veterans and have formal geriatric education.
Journal Article
Efforts to maintain and/or increase OEF/OIF veteran participation in VA MH/SUD services should be informed by their characteristics, such as younger age and better physical health relative to other veterans.
Commentary
Delivery of evidence-based care to all veterans with PTSD or depression would pay for itself—or even save money—within two years by improving productivity and reducing medical and mortality costs, writes Terri Tanielian.
Report
Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health on December 2, 2011.
Multimedia
In this December 2011 Congressional Briefing, Katherine Watkins discusses the VA's capacity to deliver care to veterans with mental health and substance use disorders and the quality of the care that is delivered. This congressionally mandated study is the first comprehensive look at the full spectrum of clinical services provided to veterans with mental health issues.
Multimedia
At this November 2011 Policy Forum, Jonathan Schleifer, policy director for Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America, joined RAND's Terry Schell for a discussion about the challenges faced by and experiences of recent combat veterans.
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