WASHINGTON – Patients in the health care system operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receive significantly better care than private-sector patients, according to a recently released independent study.
“VA’s patients know they get first-class care when they come to us,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “This study confirms what our patients already know – that VA is leading the health care industry in this country.”
The study by RAND, an independent think-tank, found that VA patients were significantly more likely than non-VA patients to receive needed preventative care. The study also found that VA patients with chronic medical problems received the treatment they needed more often than private-sector patients.
Researchers examined the medical records of nearly 600 VA patients and about 1,000 non-VA patients with similar health problems. Then, researchers compared the treatment received by both groups to well-established standards for medical care for 26 conditions.
They found that about 51 percent of non-VA patients received care that met the latest standards of the health care profession, compared with 67 percent for VA patients. For preventative care, such as pneumonia vaccination and certain cancer screenings, 64 percent of VA patients received the appropriate care, compared to only 44 percent in the private sector.
Researchers attributed the difference to technological innovations, such as VA’s computerized patient records, and to policies holding top managers accountable for standards in preventative care and the treatment of long-term conditions.
“This study confirms that VA’s computerized patient records and our ongoing performance measurement of patient care ensure that veterans receive the highest quality health care,” said Dr. Jonathan Perlin, VA’s acting under secretary for health.
The RAND study, done in cooperation with the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Michigan, was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It is available at www.rand.org/publications.
# # #
###
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.
