Advocacy: Update on VAC Roundtable

Left to Right: Jeff Boniface (CAOT-BC), Hon. Jim Karygiannis, Aaron Bedard (veteran), Hon. Hedy Fry, Andrea Newton (veteran), Hugh (veteran), Jim Newton (veteran) and Kevin Berry (veteran)

CAOT-BC participated in a roundtable discussion on the topic of service delivery to Canadian Veterans on November 1, 2013. 

Hosted by the Hon. Hedy Fry (Federal Liberal Health Critic and Chair of the BC Federal Liberal Caucus) the roundtable was held in Vancouver, BC. Also in attendance was the Hon. Jim Karygiannis (Federal Liberal Critic for Veteran Affairs).

Our presentation began with a description of occupational therapy (OT) with particular attention to the context of working with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). With consultation from our membership, CAOT-BC presented the following issues/concerns pertaining to occupational therapists providing service to VAC:

• Discontinuation of the district office OT role over the past few years;
• Lack of district office OT has resulted in a significant reduction in OT service to veterans;
• Other, non-occupational therapists or other health care professionals making decisions about the need for OT. These decision makers may not have a thorough understanding of the scope of OT service/practice;
• Not enough units being provided to OTs to complete assessments;
• Recent decision to stop funding travel time for OTs. This is especially challenging for therapists who serve rural and underserviced populations. Members have been told that OTs were paid in error previously (specifically affects the Victoria district office);
• VAC is no longer using private/contract OTs for assessments, instead directing veterans to access community health centres. These OTs have identified heavy workloads with the result that they cannot provide OT in a timely manner. Veteran waits longer than usual for OT service;
• Delays in equipment provision following assessment;
• Often VAC does not purchase equipment from vendor who trialled equipment. Suggestion to VAC- advise OT which company to use in order to improve efficiency of service;
• Older veterans have high health needs and long wait times for service can be stressful. In some cases, veteran will pass away before equipment has been approved or provided;
• Wait times from OT referral to equipment provision are becoming longer and veteran may end up in hospital as a result of the delay. There is a higher risk of falls without equipment or home support;
• Staff turnover at VAC- leads to confusion for veteran;
• Difficulty communicating with VAC. Veterans often voice frustrations and anger to the OT as the front line worker;
• In cases when OT is utilized on a file, the district nursing officer (DNO) may "reassess" and dispute or make changes to OT recommendations; 
• Confusion about veteran eligibility for benefits based on service (eg. Overseas vs reserve vs non-deployed); 

CAOT-BC offered to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve the delivery of OT services to Canadian veterans and offered a few suggestions:

• Re-establish District office OT role;
• Ensure adequate VAC staff to manage volume of veteran related requests and paperwork;
• Utilize private/fee for service OTs to improve access to care and timeliness of service;
• Review process of trial and purchase of equipment; 

Hon. Fry and Hon. Karygiannis suggested that OTs and their clients present their concerns to their local MPs. It was identified that if a petition (with greater than 25 signatures) is brought forth to the MP, they are ethically required to bring it to Ottawa. It was also recommended that any letters that are sent to an MP should be copied to the opposition as well as the Prime Ministers Office.

Thank you to Jeff Boniface (CAOT-BC member and COTF board member), for representing CAOT-BC at this event.