The National MS Society is collaborating with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs MS Centers of Excellence to support improved care and support services for veterans with MS and their families.
About the US Department of Veterans Affairs MS Centers of Excellence
In 2003 the Department of Veterans Affairs established the VA MS Centers of Excellence (MSCoE). The MSCoE utilize a network of regional programs, telemedicine and informatics tools to improve the care for veterans with MS, to enhance MS education for patients, caregivers and providers and to promote research into the causes and treatments for MS.
The MSCoE consist of coordinating centers in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR, for the western US, and in Baltimore, MD, for the eastern US, and approximately 70 regional MS programs distributed throughout the US.
Learn more at http://www.va.gov/ms.
Find the nearest VA clinics and MS Centers of Excellence near you.
|
Veterans Administration MS Centers of Excellence |
|
Part one of one: 14 minutes |
|
Topics: What are the V.A. MS Centers of Excellence?; What services are available and how is one eligible?; |
Be an MS Activist
MS activists successfully advocated for a new federal funding stream for MS research. Over the past four federal funding cycles, Congress has allocated nearly $17 million for MS research under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense. The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program that funds high-risk, high-reward research that is vital to help explore potential environmental risks, new treatments, and one day—a cure.
To become an MS Activist and stay up to date on MS research in the CDMRP and other important federal policy initiatives, sign up here.
Resources Available to Care Partners of Veterans with MS
Online
Veteran CareGiver, is a free online community of support for families caring for a Veteran. Veteran CareGiver was created to meet the needs of military families. Services provided include:
- Message boards
- Live chats
- Connections to resources and organizations
- Calendar of events
Sign up for Veteran Caregiver.
MS World offers chat rooms led by volunteers with MS specifically for members of the Military and their families.
Sign up for MS World.
By Phone
The Department of Veteran Affairs has started a monthly support and education conference call for care partners of Veterans with MS. In addition to time for networking and sharing of experiences, educational topics and resources will also be discussed.
The group meets the fourth Monday of every month from 8-9 p.m. ET. The call-in number is 1-800-767-1750, access code 43157#.
For more information on this monthly support group please contact the group's facilitator, Maggie Kazmierski, LCSW-C at 1-800-464-6295, ext. 6095/410-605-7000, ext. 6095 or by email at Margaret.Kazmierski@va.gov.
The Multiple Sclerosis Emerging Therapies Collaborative – which includes the members of the MS Coalition, the American Academy of Neurology, and the VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence East and West – has as its mission:
To develop and disseminate timely, evidence-based resources to persons affected by multiple sclerosis and health care professionals, in order to promote optimal, individualized treatment of the disease by facilitating effective communication and medical decision.
Learn more at http://www.ms-coalition.org/emergingtherapies/