Nuclear Regulatory Commission Report Finds Violations at Philadelphia-VA

Full Article at: NRC cites VA clinic for radioactive-treatment violations

By Josh Goldstein and Marie McCullough

Inquirer Staff Writers

"In the first outside report on its flawed prostate-cancer program, the Philadelphia VA Medical Center was cited for eight apparent violations in using radioactive materials on nearly 100 veterans, federal inspectors have concluded.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that the Philadelphia VA staff failed to evaluate radiation doses or know when to report a mistake, according to the 16-page report obtained yesterday by The Inquirer.

The brachytherapy team, for example, failed to check radiation doses for more than a year because a computer was unplugged from the hospital's network, the report said.

The response to correct the problem was also flawed, the report found. The VA hospital, for example, double-counted one patient, and the true number of veterans who got incorrect radiation doses was 97, not 98 as originally reported."

VA and DoD Expanding Disability Evaluation System Pilot

Full Article at: VA and DoD Announce Disability Evaluation System Pilot Expansion

Delivering Benefits Faster to Veterans

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To expedite the delivery of benefits to many injured servicemembers who receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department announced the expansion of a program with the Department of Defense (DoD) to streamline the application process for people retiring or exiting the military due to disabilities.

"Streamlining our disability claims system and working closely with DoD to care for today's generation of heroes are among VA's top priorities," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We will never lose sight of the fact that Veterans and military personnel have sacrificed for their country and earned the right to access services from VA and DoD."

The Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot began in November 2007 and is expanding to an additional six military installations, bringing the total number to 27 military facilities where a single physical examination serves as the basis for determining whether military personnel are fit enough to stay on active duty and to determine their eligibility for VA disability compensation. To date over 5,431 servicemembers have participated in the pilot.

The new locations will be Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Riley, Kan.; and Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Va. The estimated completion date for the new expansion is scheduled for March 31, 2010."