Washington, D.C. — The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the department has contracted with Booz-Allen Hamilton to conduct a study comparing VA spinal cord injury and disorders (SCID) care with that provided in the private sector.
In what may well be a landmark study, the results will allow VA to better determine the best modes of care to provide to paralyzed veterans.
"Addressing the long-term care needs and potential functional decline of paralyzed veterans is an issue that deserves an in-depth comparative look to better determine what constitutes the most efficient and effective care delivery system," said VA Secretary Togo D. West Jr.
VA serves approximately seven percent of the U.S. SCID population. VA’s Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Program promotes the health, independence, quality of life and productivity of individuals with spinal cord injury disorders.
The SCI Centers provide veterans a continuum of health care from the time of injury throughout their lives, integrating both primary and specialty care. Acute rehabilitation services are provided to approximately 400 newly injured veterans and active-duty military personnel annually and more than 15,000 persons with more remote injuries.
The contracted study will compare delivery modes of SCID health care and rehabilitation for benchmarking purposes.
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