Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources for Veterans Terri Ottosen Consumer 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 veterans President 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 InformationEvaluating Health Information M+ : Guide to Healthy Web SurfingGuide 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 Serving Those Who Serve America Designed to help providers Joining Forces: Basic Training: A Primer on Military Life and Culture for HCPs and Trainees Joining Forces: Basic Training: A Primer on Military 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 Military Health MedlinePlus: Veterans and Military Health

General Military Health Resources MyHealthE Vet Deployment Health Clinical Center VA Polytrauma System of Care Disabled American Veterans Deployment Health and Family Readiness Library Deployment Health and Family Readiness Library Traumatic Brain Injury Veterans and Military Health: Websites Serving NC Veterans and Military Health: Websites Serving NC

Mental Health Resources Dept. of Veterans Affairs Vet Center National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mental Health Self-Assessment Program Mental Health Self-Assessment Program VA Mental Health

Support Groups and Organizations Citizen Soldier Support Program Wounded Warrior Project – Directory 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 Association National Native American Veterans Association BlackMilitaryWorld LGBT – SLDN and MPFCSLDNMPFC

Spinal Cord Injuries and Disease Resources National Spinal Cord Injury Association National Spinal Cord Injury Association SPINALCORD: Spinal Cord Injury Information Network SPINALCORD: Spinal Cord Injury Information Network M+ Interactive Tutorial: Spinal Cord Injuries M+ Interactive Tutorial: Spinal Cord Injuries

Chronic Disease Resources (WHO) World Health Organization: Chronic Diseases (WHO) World Health Organization: Chronic Diseases (CDC) Centers for Disease Control: Chronic Disease Prevention (CDC) Centers for Disease Control: Chronic Disease Prevention

Benefits Resources IRIS: Inquiry Routing and Information System (Veterans Affairs) 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 Navigating the Health Care System: A Resource Guide for Consumers Insurance Options and Help (Healthcare.gov) Insurance Options and Help (Healthcare.gov) Healthcare411

Current Awareness and Other Resources House Committee on Veterans Affairs Activities House Committee on Veterans Affairs Activities Veterans History Project Institute of Medicine: Health of Veterans and Deployed Forces Institute of Medicine: Health of Veterans and Deployed Forces Blogs: Readers: FeedDemon or Google ReaderFeedDemonGoogle Reader – Military Blogs (Milblogs) Military Blogs

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

Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples

Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples

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 or Terri