Veterans Healthcare

Originally Published May 07, 2012; Last Updated November 15, 2012; Last Republished November 15, 2012:

Veterans' healthcare adds 1,900 mental health clinicians in an effort to reduce appointment backlog and a record numbers of suicides, as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decides enbanc it does not have the authority to speed veterans' treatment. In other news a VAOIG audit has identified areas where registered nurse (RN) competency assessment and validation processes needs improvement.

Specifically: standardize RN competency assessment and validation requirements across facilities; include the RN competency validation documentation elements required by Joint Commission standards and local policy; ensure all RN competency documentation is maintained in a competency folders that is current and validated; and take appropriate actions when RN competency expectations are not met.

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UPDATED 11/15/2012 AJC, Army suicides for 2012 surpass last year's numbers