Improving Guam Veterans Access to Medical and Public Health Services

Abstract

The Department of the Navy Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Military Relocation identified Public Health and Safety as significant impacts, but mitigable. The grant enables the Government of Guam to be responsive to the public health significant impact by specifically addressing the systemic challenge of providing medical and public health services to Guam s military veterans. The Territory of Guam has one of the highest military service volunteer rates per capita in the nation; with one in eight adults having served in the armed forces. Despite those impressive numbers, Guam is continually at the bottom for per capita medical spending by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Due to the islands size and remoteness the veterans? community faces some of the most severe access to services challenges. Guam lacks the specialized treatment facilities available in other locations. The nearest post-traumatic stress disorder program is located more than 3,000 miles away in Hawaii. The grant enables the Government of Guam to develop a strategic Guam Veterans Affairs Medical and Public Health Services Access Action Plan to be more responsive to the underserved veteran community.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 26, 2022
Source ID
HQ00052210023

Entities

People

  • Carol Perez

Organizations

  • Government of Guam
  • Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Economics
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Cognitive Aging in the Guam and Border Populations Affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Tau-Associated Dementias.