Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Investigations Of Medical Errors At VA Hospitals, Clinics Down 18 Percent, GAO Report Finds
The Washington Post: Medical Errors Are Up At VA Hospitals, But They’re Actually Doing Less To Figure Out Why
Hospitals across the country are under growing pressure to reduce preventable medical mistakes, the errors that can cause real harm and even death to patients. But the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs a massive system of hospitals and clinics that cared for 5.8 million veterans last year, is doing less, not more, to identify what went wrong to make sure it doesn’t happen again. (Rein, 8/31)
NPR: Some Veterans Affairs Reforms Undermine Medical Recruitment Efforts
The Department of Veterans Affairs is suffering a shortfall of physicians, especially in mental health. A steady flow of scandals and attempts at strict reform by Congress may be hurting recruitment. (Lawrence, 8/31)
In a new report, 41 percent of women in the military say they have been sexually harassed while serving -
Reuters: Two In Five Military Women Endure Sexual Trauma During Service
In the U.S. military, women may be nearly 10 times more likely than men to experience sexual assault or harassment, a study of recent veterans suggests. Researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) surveyed more than 20,000 men and women who served during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. About 41 percent of women and 4 percent of men reported suffering some form of sexual harassment during their time in the military. (8/31)
