Geiger, James F, MPA, FACHE

Johnson, Eric, MPSA, CPS, CAAMA, CHS, CHEP, CDP

Sabino, Judith, MPH

English

Lehigh Valley Health Network: LVHN Scholarly Works

Lehigh Valley Health NetworkLVHN Scholarly WorksAdministration & LeadershipA Cross-Cultural Health Care Approach toImprove Veteran Health Services in an AcademicCommunity HospitalJudith Sabino MPHLehigh Valley Health Network, judith.sabino@lvhn.orgEric Johnson MPSA, CPS, CAAMA, CHS, CHEP, CDPLehigh Valley Health Network, eric.johnson@lvhn.orgJames F. Geiger MPA, FACHELehigh Valley Health Network, James.Geiger@lvhn.orgFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/administration-leadershipPart of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Health andMedical Administration Commons, and the Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsCommonsThis Poster is brought to you for free and open access by LVHN Scholarly Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in LVHN Scholarly Works by anauthorized administrator. For more information, please contact LibraryServices@lvhn.org.Published In/Presented AtSabino, J., Johnson, E., & Geiger, J. (2013, November 2-6). A cross-cultural health care approach to improve veteran health services in anacademic community hospital. Poster presented at: The American Public Health Association (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting andExposition, Boston, MA.Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PennsylvaniaA Cross-cultural Health Care Approach to Improve Veteran Health Services in an Academic Community HospitalJudith Sabino, MPH, Diversity/Cultural Awareness Liaison; Eric Johnson, Jr., MPSA, CPS, CAAMA, CHS, CHEP, CDP, Operations Specialist and Veterans Affairs Liaison Officer;James F. Geiger, MPA, FACHE, Senior Vice President for OperationsRationale: •		Cross-cultural care:		High	quality	health	care	provision	requires	clinicians	to	align	diagnostic	and	treatment	regimens	with	their	patients’	(and	families’)	cultural	backgrounds	and	preferences.•		Military culture:		Military	service	(for	active	duty,	guard	and	reserve	component	personnel	as	well	as	the	over	20	million	veterans)	is	a	significant	component	of	cultural	background	that	contributes	to	overall	health	status,	morbidities	and	use	of	health	care	services.		•		Veteran care in civilian health system:		Even	though	Veterans	Administration	health	services	are	available	throughout	the	country,	community	(civilian)	hospitals	are	a	significant	source	of	health	care	for	many	veterans.		Sixty	percent	of	veterans	receive	health	care	in	the	civilian	medical	system	(VA,	2011).				•		Clinician awareness: 	Veterans	may	exhibit	service-related	symptoms	that	will	go	undiagnosed	(and	untreated)	without	clinician	knowledge	of	past	military	experience.		•		Military values: 	Aspects	of	military	culture	(such	as	“selfless	service,”	or	“devotion	to	duty”)	may	be	a	factor	in	seeking	timely	health	care	services.		Understanding	a	patient’s	military	background	will	facilitate	the	delivery	of	cross-cultural,	patient-centered	care.			•		Social and family needs:		Beyond	biomedical	conditions,	veterans	and	their	families	have	social	needs	that	clinical	encounters	or	hospitalizations	can	address.		•		Health system capabilities:		Activities	that	raise	awareness	of	these	particular	needs	and	community	services	will	aid	clinicians	and	other	health	care	colleagues	in	providing	high	quality	care	to	veterans.		© 2013 Lehigh Valley Health NetworkIB 10-463, P96532March, 2013Office of Academic AffiliationsMilitary Health History VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATIONPOCKET CARD FOR CLINICIANSCold Injury Chemical Warfare Agent ExperimentsExposure to Nuclear Weapons (Including Testing or Cleanup)Nuclear Weapons Testing   (Atomic Veterans) Cold WarAgent Orange Exposure            Hepatitis CVietnam, Korean DMZ & ThailandChemical or Biological AgentsDepleted Uranium (DU)Dermatologic IssuesImmunizationsInfectious Diseases (i.e., Leishmaniasis)Oil Well FiresReproductive Health IssuesAnimal Bites/RabiesCombined PenetratingBlunt TraumaBurn Injuries (Blast Injuries)Dermatologic IssuesEmbedded Fragments(shrapnel)LeishmaniasisOperation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom,Operation New Dawn    (OEF/OIF/OND)Veterans’ Health ConcernsGulf Warwww.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/Independent Study Courseswww.publichealth.va.gov/exposureswww.vba.va.gov/bln/21Information for Veterans:www.warrelatedillness.va.govWar-Related Illness andInjury Study CenterWWII & Korean WarAsking Veterans   these questions...AsbestosBurn Pit SmokeContaminated water (benzene, trichloroethylene,vinyl chloride)Endemic DiseasesHexavalent ChromiumIonizing & Non-Ionizing RadiationJet Fuel LeadMustard GasNerve AgentsParticulate MatterPesticidesTCDD & other dioxinsMental Health IssuesMulti-Drug Resistant AcinetobacterReproductive Health IssuesSpinal Cord InjuryTraumatic AmputationTraumatic Brain InjuryVision LossEnvironmental ExposuresWOULD YOU TELL ME IF YOU ARE A VETERAN  OR A MEMBER  OF THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES  SO I MAY THANK YOU  FOR YOUR SERVICE!   Sponsored by Healthcare in Our Community Project with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council     Veteran Health Initiative: Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pennsylvania) launched a veteran health initiative in 2012 to enhance cross-cultural care for patients (and their families) with current and past military experience.  Strategies have included:	 •		Standard	screening	of	all	patients	to	record	and	track	past	and	current	military	service		   -  “Have you served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and/or were you activated, into active duty, as a member of the National Guard or as a Reservist?”	 •		Clinical	education	on	veteran-specific	morbidities	and	support	systems			   -  Examples include Medical Grand Rounds sessions, Surgical Grand Rounds sessions, Schwartz Rounds		 •		Peer	support	for	patients	and	employees	who	are	veterans,	as	well	as	those	employees	with	family	members	on	active	duty,	and		 •		Special	events	(Memorial	Day	observances	and	Veterans	Day	Celebrations)	to	increase	awareness	of	and	appreciation	for	military	personnel	and	veterans	within	our	organization	and	community.				Specific aspects of this initiative have been critical to its success, including:	 •		Leadership	endorsement	(several	senior	management	officers	are	veterans	and	their	advocacy	gave	the	initiative	legitimacy	and	significance	within	the	complex	organizational	culture),	 •		Alignment	of	this	approach	within	the	health	network’s	cultural	awareness	initiative	(this	linkage	framed	the	veteran	health	project	within	an	already	familiar	network	program	and	promoted	recognizable	cross-cultural	skills,	a	patient-based	approach,	that	were	applied	to	patients	with	current	and	past	military	service),		 •		Engagement	of	health	network	employees	with	military	background	in	the	planning	and	implementation	of	initiative	strategies,	and		 •		Collaboration	with	other	regional	health	care	organizations	that	share	the	same	overall	goal	of	improved	veteran	health.				Results: 	 •		Establishment	of	Veterans	Affairs	Liaison	Officer	position.		VALO	assists	clinicians	with	service-related	health	questions	as	well	as	relevant	care	coordination.	 •		Improved	determination	of	government	payer	eligibility	and	examination	of	reimbursement	procedures/strategies	to	assure	effective	payment	of	claims	for	health	services	for	veterans.		 •		Employee	engagement	increased	for	LVHN	colleagues	who	serve	as	veteran	champions	and	operationalize	this	initiative.		 •		Community-wide,	standardized	patient	screening	processes;	joint	continuing	education	events	on	military	culture	and	joint	CEO-level	engagement	to	improve	health	services	for	local	veteransLehigh Valley Health Network Description: Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital campuses - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; nine health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region. Specialty care includes: trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, neurology, and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.  Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, the only children’s hospital in the region, provides care in 28 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 18 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing.  

A Cross-Cultural Health Care Approach to Improve Veteran Health Services in an Academic Community Hospital

https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1096&context=administration-leadership

A Cross-Cultural Health Care Approach to Improve Veteran Health Services in an Academic Community Hospital

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