REPORT OF BVA 60TH NATIONAL CONVENTION BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Resolutions 1-05 through 3-05
Resolutions 4-05 through 6-05
Resolutions 7-05 through 10-05
Resolutions 11-05 through 13-05
Resolutions 14-05 through 17-05
Resolutions 18-05 through 21-05
Resolutions 22-05 through 23-05
Resolutions 24-05 through 27-05
Resolutions 28-05 through 29-05
Resolutions 30-05 through 32-05
Resolutions 33-05 through 35-05
Resolutions 36-05 through 38-05
Resolutions 39-05 through 41-05
Resolutions 42-05 through 43-05
Resolutions 44-05 through 45-05

RESOLUTION 39-05

RESOLUTION: DETERMINATION OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT VA SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR BLIND VETERANS

WHEREAS, the nation is at war and the effective and efficient expenditure of resources must be maximized, AND

WHEREAS, measures are being considered by Congress to reduce cost and increase efficiency in Government spending, AND

WHEREAS, in 2004 the VA estimated that there were 278,400 veterans age 85 or older enrolled in the system, AND

WHEREAS, the projections for 2012 is 681,000 veterans age 85 or older, AND

WHEREAS, this is some 2.5 times the number of 85 + year old veterans in the current population, AND

WHEREAS, it is mandatory to determine what this increase will require in the VA service delivery system to address the needs of an aging blind veteran population, AND

WHEREAS, BVA wants to ensure that an adequate service delivery model is in place to meet the needs of all blinded veterans in the future, AND

WHEREAS, the BVA wants to ensure that the most effective and efficient use is made of the resources allocated by the VA to the delivery of blind rehabilitation services; THEREFORE BE IT 

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005, urges that the BVA request VA Under Secretary of Health to require BRS to provide statistical data with a focus on a cost benefit analysis of the VA Blind Rehabilitation Service model of service delivery to determine if resources are being properly allocated to address the needs of America’s current and future blinded veterans, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that the VA be required to ensure an adequate model of service delivery that will effectively address the needs of the Nations blinded veterans in the most cost effective manner in future years, AND FINALLY BE IT 

RESOLVED, that this resolution be included in the written and oral testimony of the BVA to Congress.

RESOLUTION 40-05

RESOLUTION: SETUP OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

WHEREAS, the setup of computers is authorized and Prosthetics pays for such service, AND

WHEREAS, many of the blinded veterans receiving such equipment are elderly and/or have disabilities that require such equipment to be setup, AND

WHEREAS, it is good practice to ensure computer equipment arrives in good condition and is setup and configured correctly in the veteran’s home so that the veteran can use the equipment in a timely manner, AND

WHEREAS, there is a disparity of service and commitment to continuum of care among various VA facilities, and VISNs, AND

WHEREAS, some facilities and VISNs have made it part of their commitment to customer service to make vendor set-up and delivery of computer equipment a routine part of the issuance procedure, AND

WHEREAS, other VA facilities and VISNs do not offer this level of service, AND

WHEREAS, this lack of commitment to good customer service and follow-through has resulted in poor transition between the training environment and veteran's home, AND

WHEREAS, this ultimately costs the VA more in troubleshooting calls and problem solving and results in needless delays in the veteran being able to utilize the equipment that they have trained on and been issued; THEREFORE BE IT 

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005, strongly recommend to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that in order to insure uniformity of care and appropriate follow through, that setup of computers be provided as a standard of practice and not as an exception, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that Blind Rehabilitation Services (BRS) partner with the BVA and Prosthetics (P&SAS) to develop policies and procedures to standardize the setup of computer equipment and peripherals by putting in place clinical indicators to include but not limited to: veterans health, age, physical condition, manual dexterity and demonstrated ability or lack thereof in determining if the setup service is appropriate.

RESOLUTION 41-05

RESOLUTION:    NEED FOR CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT IN BRS 

  STRATEGIC PLANNING

WHEREAS, VA Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) has developed a number of strategic planning committees, AND

WHEREAS, the committees are developing treatment and service delivery strategies, AND

WHEREAS, consumers are not represented on these committees nor is consumer input being sought, AND

WHEREAS, the BVA strongly feels that planning needs to include ongoing input and feedback from the consumers to ensure that plans developed meet the needs and desires of the consumers, AND

WHEREAS, BVA should be a partner in the development of any strategic plans that impact treatment and services to blinded veterans; THEREFORE BE IT 

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida on this 20^th day of August, 2005, request that the BVA recommends to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that BRS be instructed to have consumer involvement on strategic planning committees and that the consumers be used as partners in the development of all strategic planning that affects treatment and service delivery to blinded veterans, AND FURTHER BE IT

RESOLVED, that the language in this resolution be included in the written testimony to Congress.

Resolutions 42-05 through 43-05 >