title: VA integrated post-combat care: a systemic approach to caring for returning combat veterans.
abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) mission is to care for those who have borne the battle. As medical technology has advanced, more and more of our returning combat Veterans survive what would have been fatal wounds in previous conflicts ( Gawande, 2004 ). But survival is only the immediate goal-our job is to restore Veterans to the greatest level of health, independence, and quality of life that is medically possible. The VA is achieving this goal through close collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) to facilitate a smooth transition and continuum of care that ensures Veterans and Service Members receive the care they deserve. This article describes VA's system of Veteran-centered, post-combat care programs that rely on significant involvement of social workers to support Service Members, Veterans and their families through recovery, rehabilitation, and re-integration into their home communities.
authors.affiliation: Office of Care Management and Social Work , Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA. Deborah.Amdur@va.gov
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amdur
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batres
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belisle
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornis-Pop
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathewson-Chapman
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahoney-Gleason
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheets
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washam
mesh_terms: D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D059030:United States Department of Defense; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs