Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources

for Veterans

Terri OttosenConsumer Health Outreach Coordinator

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern Atlantic Region

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Objectives:

• Understand the unique information needs of veterans and their families

• Utilize resources presented to locate reliable, authoritative health information specific to veterans

• Acquire skills and knowledge to effectively identify and assess resources not covered in the class

Considerations

• Unique group with unique life events and experiences

• Skills and coping mechanisms developed during service may be counterproductive or misunderstood in civilian life

• Readjustment is a major challenge• Families, friends, caregivers may need

assistance coping with changes• Extensive information needs relating to all of

the above

Informational Needs

• 8 million Vietnam Veterans• 6.7 million World War II Veterans• 4.3 million Korean conflict Veterans• 697,000 Gulf War Veterans• 1.4 million Afghanistan/Iraq• Greater rates of diabetes/overweight/obese• 1/3 U.S. veterans suffer from arthritis

Informational Needs

• Polytrauma• Chronic Disease• Traumatic Brain Injury• Spinal Cord Injury• Limb Loss• Eye injuries• PTSD and other mental health issues• Health care benefits, insurance, financial

issues

Informational Needs

• Number of uninsured veterans ~2 million• Rose 2x as fast as the uninsured general

population• In Jan. 2003, health care access cut off to

future veterans earning more than $30-35,000 annually on average

• Only a minority of veterans (those disabled by military service) are automatically eligible for VA care

Informational Needs

• 1/3 U.S. Military personnel war in Iraq access mental health services after returning home

• Prevalence rates of mental health concerns higher for Iraq veterans – 19.1% vs. 11.3% Afghanistan and 8.5% from other locations

• Veterans suffering depression are 7-8x more likely to commit suicide than general population: 90:100,000 vs. 13.5:100,000

Informational Needs

• VA and aid groups bracing for new surge in homeless veterans in years ahead

• Contributing factors:– High rates of PTSD– Traumatic brain injury which can cause unstable

behavior and substance abuse– Long and repeated tours of duty which makes

reintegration into families and work harder

Informational Needs

• Veterans: 11% adult population yet 16% of the homeless on any given day

• In 2006, 196,000 veterans of all ages were homeless on any given night (2012 ~60,000)

• Chronic cases (homeless for > year) 44,000-64,000 veteransPresident has set goal to eliminate problem by 2015

• Health information needs greater than general population?

General Health Resources

• Evaluating what’s out there on the Internet• M+ : Evaluating Health Information• M+ : Guide to Healthy Web Surfing• Key Points: Who runs/pays for the site? What

is the purpose? Source of info? Reviewed? Current? How are links to other sites chosen? User info collected? Able to contact? Accurate?

MedEd Portal

• Association of American Medical Colleges: Serving Those Who Serve America

• Designed to help providers• Joining Forces: Basic Training: A Primer on Mili

tary Life and Culture for HCPs and Trainees• Respository for sharing educational activities

and programs that address caring for military personnel, their families and veterans

General Resources

• ClinicalTrials.gov• Disability Information• MedlinePlus: Veterans and Mil

itary Health

General Military Health Resources• MyHealthE Vet• Deployment Health Clinical Center• VA Polytrauma System of Care• Disabled American Veterans• Deployment Health and Family Readiness Libr

ary• Traumatic Brain Injury• Veterans and Military Health: Websites Servin

g NC

Mental Health Resources

• Dept. of Veterans Affairs Vet Center• National Center for Posttraumatic Str

ess Disorder• Mental Health Self-Assessment Progr

am• VA Mental Health

Support Groups and Organizations

• Citizen Soldier Support Program• Wounded Warrior Project

–Directory

• Military Homefront• Military Onesource• Amputee Coalition of America• National Amputation Foundation

Demographic Group Resources

• VA Women Veterans Health Care• Center for Minority Veterans• National Native American Veterans A

ssociation• BlackMilitaryWorld• LGBT – SLDN and MPFC

Spinal Cord Injuries and Disease Resources

• National Spinal Cord Injury Association

• SPINALCORD: Spinal Cord Injury Information Network

• M+ Interactive Tutorial: Spinal Cord Injuries

Chronic Disease Resources

• (WHO) World Health Organization: Chronic Diseases

• (CDC) Centers for Disease Control: Chronic Disease Prevention

Benefits Resources

• IRIS: Inquiry Routing and Information System (Veterans Affairs)

• GovBenefits.gov

Health Insurance and Consumer Assistance

• Navigating the Health Care System: A Resource Guide for Consumers

• Insurance Options and Help (Healthcare.gov)

• Healthcare411

Current Awareness and Other Resources

• House Committee on Veterans Affairs Activities

• Veterans History Project• Institute of Medicine: Health of Veterans and

Deployed Forces• Blogs: Readers: FeedDemon or Google Reader

– Military Blogs (Milblogs)

VALNET: Referral

• VALNET: VA Library Network

Libraries Can Help

• Develop collections that…o provide support for returning soldiers and

their families o provide information on specific conditions and

information about claiming benefits o educate and inform the public

• Create pathfinder or LibGuide for online information resources

o local, state, federal resources

Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples

http://libraryschool.campusguides.com/sandiegoveteranresources

Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples

http://lib.gwinnettpl.org/Veterans

Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples

http://libguides.usc.edu/uscveterans

Possibilities? Ideas?

• Increase library staff knowledge of resources and services for veterans

• Work with academic support services to coordinate enhanced delivery of VA education benefits information and counseling

• Provide a veteran-specific orientation to introduce new military/veteran students to library programs and services

• Support or “sponsor” a veteran organization

• Connect with existing groups to identify ways to support

• Offer a military/veteran student gathering place

• Offer an online course designed to help student veterans become familiar with campus programs, resources, and services

Conclusions

• Veterans are a unique segment of American population.

• Government agencies, educational institutions, and libraries can all contribute to veterans’ success transitioning to civilian life and academic life.

• Libraries are uniquely positioned to function as “portals” to information and services that benefit veterans and their families.

Thank You!

Questions or Comments? National Network of Libraries of

Medicine

800-338-7657or email: Terri

tottosen@hshsl.umaryland.edu