• Salt Lake City: Mostly Cloudy 54°
mostlycloudy
Deseret News
Home
  • Login/Register
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Site
    • Text Version
    • Mobile Apps
Powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
    • Cars
    • Jobs
    • Deals
powered by ksl.com
  • Utah
  • World & Nation
  • Politics
  • Business
  • More News
    • Education
    • Salt Lake County
    • Utah County
    • Davis County
    • Police/Courts
    • Legislature
    • Weather
    • Immigration
    • News Wire
Advertise with usReport this ad

No single therapy for veterans' chronic illness, but the suffering is real, IOM says

  • Print
  • Font [+] [-]
  • 2 Comments »

By Lois M. Collins, Deseret News

Published: Sunday, Jan. 27 2013 11:00 p.m. MST

Photo
  • View 1 photo »
Summary

No simple treatment exists for a multisymptom illness that's disrupting the health and lives of veterans, according to an Institute of Medicine report. But the illness and suffering is real and customized care seems to offer the most promise.

More Coverage
  • AP source: Pentagon chief Leon Panetta opens combat roles to women

That's another part of the VA's job, the IOM panel said — to test treatments and figure out what works in well-designed studies.

It’s a “hard thing” to watch so many veterans suffer from CMI and sometimes feel doubted, said Dr. Gavin West, a physician at the Salt Lake VA who treats many of them. “So it’s really neat to see the IOM come out and validate this.” He predicted the report would help veterans. “I think a lot of good is going to come out of this.”

As for whether some of the soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have CMI, “that’s the million-dollar question. It may very well be true, but I’m not sure personally.” He said the Salt Lake VA has been among those doing studies on that and related topics.

"One of the thing we think is extremely important is to evaluate what the VA already has in place for treatment of veterans that return from a Gulf war," said Rosof. "Evaluate them, get good data, see if it's working and, what's more, make it available and understood. Make the program available and understood to the veterans, the physicians, the teams of people who take care of these patients. See from the evaluation and data what works and doesn't work and go from there."

It also called upon the VA to have a "CMI champion" at each of its centers that would coordinate care and provide information and advice about how best to serve CMI-afflicted veterans.

"We think they deserve the best of care for what they have given," said Rosof of veteran service.

"You also have to recognize that the (VA health system) faces extraordinary challenges in caring for the populations of veterans who have CMI. We believe it is possible to meet those challenges, with adequate clinician support, organization and preparation of care teams that fit their needs better. I think it's all doable and I think they believe they are on the pathway to accomplish that."

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

EMAIL: lois@desnews.com, Twitter: Loisco

Related Stories
  • AP source: Pentagon chief Leon Panetta opens combat roles to women

  • «Prev
  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2

Featured Comments

See all 2 comments »
Pagan
Salt Lake City, UT

We spend literally 1/10th of our military budget on our troops.

But x8 times more than any other country, on our military.

Bring them home.

Treat them well.

  • 10:26 p.m. Jan. 23, 2013
  • Top comment
over50
Pearl Harbor, HI

Doesn't matter what you call it, the VA won't recognize it, treat it or compensate for it.

  • 1:23 p.m. Jan. 28, 2013
  • Top comment
Comments
Leave a comment »

DeseretNews.com encourages a civil dialogue among its readers. We welcome your thoughtful comments.
— About comments

About the Author
Lois M. Collins

Lois M. Collins

Lois M. Collins is a reporter and columnist for the Deseret News. While she writes primarily on health and family issues for the national and news sections, she also writes a biweekly column and her work appears often in more ..

  • Connect:
Advertise with usReport this ad
What You May Have Missed
  • Wives of LDS Church's First Presidency honored by children (+videos)
  • Disney's 'Brave' makeover sparks fury from fans, director
  • Mitt Romney to live in Utah — at least some of the time
Sample morning edition email
Advertise with usReport this ad
Most Popular
Across Site
In World & Nation
  • Mitt Romney talks IRS, AP records, Benghazi...
  • LDS missionary 'stable' following hit-and-run...
  • Treasury IG says Obama administration...
  • Steven Powell will not be released from...
  • Girl gets surprise reunion with dad at Rays...
  • Pa. coffee run leads to hatchet hitchhiker...
  • One month later: Boston Marathon victims...
  • A look at why the Benghazi issue keeps coming...
  • Frances Monson, wife of LDS prophet, passes away
  • USA Rugby: 'What BYU won ... was a mythical...
  • Watch a video tribute to Sister Frances B....
  • Mitt Romney talks IRS, AP records, Benghazi...
  • Disney reportedly pulls new 'Brave' image of...
  • LDS missionary 'stable' following hit-and-run...
  • Writers offer personal finance advice to Obama
  • High school track: Ogden's Sarah Feeny breaks...
Get The Deseret News Everywhere

Subscribe

Mobile

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

Email

Most Commented
Across Site
In World & Nation
  • Mitt Romney talks IRS, AP records,... 38
  • 'Unprecedented': Obama administration... 27
  • Attorney General Eric Holder says he... 21
  • Journalists push back against Obama... 21
  • Angry Orrin Hatch: IRS guilty of... 19
  • IRS lacked 'sensitivity' in screenings... 17
  • House chairman sees IRS targeting as... 16
  • LDS missionary 'stable' following... 16
  • Dan Liljenquist: Chaffetz's search for... 77
  • Considerable work, planning has gone... 71
  • Mormon NFL safety Eric Weddle:... 65
  • Letters: Gun logical fallacies 64
  • Frances Monson, wife of LDS prophet,... 61
  • Ryan Teeples: Ziggy Ansah's story... 59
  • USA Rugby: 'What BYU won ... was a... 57
  • Utes football: No changes imminent for... 56
Advertise with usReport this ad
Advertise with usReport this ad
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
Home »
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Lists
  • Movies
  • Columnists
  • Watch It
News »
  • Utah news
  • World & Nation
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Education
  • Salt Lake County
  • Utah County
  • Davis County
  • Police/Courts
  • Legislature
  • Weather
  • Immigration
  • News Wire
Sports »
  • Utah Jazz
  • Sports Picks
  • BYU Cougars
  • Utah Utes
  • Utah State Aggies
  • Real Salt Lake
  • Salt Lake Bees
  • High school sports
  • Rock
  • Harmon
  • Watch It
  • Scores and Stats
  • On TV
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • Weber State Wildcats
  • Grizzlies
  • Utah Valley Wolverines
  • Southern Utah University
  • Sports Wire
Opinion »
  • Editorials
  • Op-Eds
  • Letters
  • Political Cartoons
Faith »
  • Featured Faiths
  • Mormon Times
  • LDS Church News
  • Mission Reunions
  • Faith Wire
Family »
  • Marriage & Parenting
  • Family Media
  • Movie Guide
  • Calendar
  • TV Listings
  • Family Life Wire
Special Sections »
  • Census
  • City Creek
  • Decision 2012
  • Education Week
  • Fire Watch
  • LDS General Conference
  • Mormons in America
  • Olympics
  • Outdoor Retailer
  • Rugby
  • Sports Picks
  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Utah Blaze
  • Utah Grizzlies
  • Voter Guide
  • Print Subscription
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Feedback
  • Jobs
  • RSS
  • E-Edition
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal notices
  • Advertise with us
Advertise with usReport this ad
Connect tracking