Pilot Project for Disabilities Criticized

A new pilot project is being tried out at three military medical facilities and one VA medical center, in hopes of eliminating duplication in the military and VA systems. Why the need for this? The current systems are slow, with much duplication between the two separate systems, resulting in double the work and double the hassle for service members.

The pilot system was created in an effort to help make service members’ disabilities run smoother and more effectively, but many are criticizing the project. The biggest ‘slam’ on this new project is pointing out that these systems, though quicker, are still bad systems that are outdated and not in line with the needs of service members today.

The biggest criticism came straight from the Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, who spoke up at a hearing before the House Armed Services Subcommittee stating that both systems were outdated models that did not work with today’s issues. He was quoted as saying, “When you speed up a bad process, all you have is a fast, bad process”.

According to Lt. Gen. Eric Shoomaker, there needs to be many changes in the way things are handled, updated to today’s issues for service members.

There has been no word yet whether the system will be put into play permanently.







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Veterans Affairs Department Tries to Improve Claim Processes

Everyone knows that the VA process for disability claims is a mess. The VA is not using new technologies, they are still using a paper environment and they are using systems set in place in the 1940’s. If you’ve dealt with the VA, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The department received over 800,000 disability claims in 2007 and is backlogged with almost 400,000 claims.

Fortunately, they have plans to update, with the help of IBM Global Business Services.

Last September, IBM was hired to analyze the VA’s benefits processes and make recommendations for improving productivity.

The results are in and they have recommended:

1) a paperless environment

2) electronic signatures

3) e-authentication

4) electronic workflow management

5) electronic content management

6) a secure online portal for claims and online transactions

7) hiring more employees

Government officials say this upgrade is not enough. They would also like to see improvements with disability claims processing, adjustments to the program’s design, new structure and divisions of labor and most importantly, an update to the disability rating schedule which has not been corrected since 1945.








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Designer t-cells suppress multiple sclerosis in mice

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences states that there might be a new way to suppress auto immune diseases, including multiple sclerosis.

The drug has only been tested on mice so far, but many are thinking that it looks promising. It works by stimulating the development of t-cells, and has been proven to suppress autoimmune diseases in mice in three different models.

The drug is called FYAK and is relative of Copaxone, a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Other than being used to treat multiple sclerosis, it was also found very effective in treating uveitis in mice, a common cause of blindness.

Although it could be years before the drug is proven harmless and successful, a company near Harvard is currently testing the drug on humans in a Phase I clinical trial.








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