VA aligns health professions education with healthcare priorities

In 1997, the Veterans Health Administration constituted the Associated Health Professions Education Review Committee to provide recommendations for its associated health training programs. The Committee recommended that support for the 54,000 trainees in over 45 non-physician disciplines that train every year in VA facilities be allocated based on patient-focused criteria that emphasize the VA's healthcare priorities. Such priorities include accessible primary care, geriatrics, treatment of substance abuse, chronic care, and rehabilitation The Committee also placed a high priority on disciplines that demonstrate interprofessional strategies for healthcare delivery and training. Educational institutions and disciplines that address these needs in innovative ways will find opportunities for clinical training in VA settings.