Relationships with a range of public- and private-sector research sponsors help get research findings to those who support veterans, their families, and their communities.
Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to improve veterans’ access to timely, high-quality health care and improve accountability within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The legislation mandated an independent assessment of the health care provided to veterans, which examined the demographics and health care needs of veteran populations, health care resources and capabilities, and the authorities and mechanisms to ensure that veterans are able to get the care they need.
Veterans who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001, are at particularly high risk for co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. However, most veterans with co-occurring disorders do not receive treatment. A need to lower barriers to care, improve screening, and provide evidence-based, integrated treatment targeting both types of conditions concurrently are among the steps the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can take to improve veterans’ long-term treatment outcomes.
Family members and social networks are a key component of the care system for wounded service members. Providing this unpaid, informal care over the long term can have a physical, emotional, and financial toll. The most comprehensive study of the needs of military caregivers to date identified gaps in support for these “hidden heroes” and mechanisms to empower them.
