Study: Women vets get lesser care some places

Study: Women vets get lesser care some places

By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 10:30:55 EDT

WASHINGTON — Women veterans aren’t receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs’ facilities, according to an agency review obtained exclusively by The Associated Press.

The review appears to validate the complaints of advocates and some members of Congress who have said the health care system needs to focus more on women’s health.

Women make up about 5 percent of VA’s population, but that number is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more women return home from Iraq and Afghanistan and seek care.

The review of the quality of care at VA facilities, which was mandated by Congress, found that at about one-third of its facilities, the quality of outpatient care given to women wasn’t as good as what was offered to men.

It said that VA has made strides in improving care for women veterans, such as creating on-site mammography services and establishing women’s clinics at most of its medical centers. It also said VA is attempting to recruit clinicians with training in women’s care and broadening its approach to better address diseases prevalent among women such as lung cancer.

However, it said that there were barriers that remained, such as the need to train more physicians in women’s care and for more equipment to meet women’s health needs.

“VHA is continuing to investigate the possibility of gender disparity in delivery of care through research efforts aimed at further delineating the factors involved,” the review said.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_womenvets_061308/