National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
OCE Partnerships and COVID-19
American Lung Association offers additional resources to Veterans during coronavirus pandemic
As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spreads across the globe, one organization that is currently in talks with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a potential partner is providing helpful information and resources to Veterans and the public. The American Lung Association (ALA) is working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. The virus that causes COVID-19 affects the respiratory system, and ALA’s expertise in this area enables the organization to share science-based information to all Americans during this public health crisis.
According to ongoing VA research on respiratory health, Veterans may suffer from respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to exposure to respiratory hazards in combat. These diseases place Veterans at greater risk for additional harm from COVID-19.
ALA is working to do several things in light of the pandemic: educate the public, including Veterans, about ways to stay safe, support relief efforts, and provide a forum for individuals to ask questions of experts directly. The organization is accomplishing these goals by:
- Hosting 30-minute webinar updates every Monday at 1 p.m. CT, which will provide new information on COVID-19 and address questions from individuals living with chronic lung diseases.
- Creating its COVID-19 Action Initiative, a $25 million investment that will work with public and private entities to increase research collaboration and develop new vaccines, detection tests, and treatment therapies.
- Promoting its Lung HelpLine (1-800-LUNGUSA) and online submission form for people to ask questions about lung diseases and COVID-19, as well as smoking cessation.
- Sharing up-to-date information on topics such as COVID-19 signs and symptoms, stopping the spread, and addressing myths about lung illnesses on its blog, “Each Breath.”
ALA’s National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer issued on April 9 a statement about the organization’s work in light of the pandemic, which said in part: “We are working to provide information and support to minimize the risk to all, especially those with a lung disease like asthma, COPD, or lung cancer—who are at higher risk for more severe symptoms or complications from COVID-19.”
Dr. Tracy L. Weistreich, acting Nurse Executive of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Community Engagement (OCE), which supports partnerships throughout VA and VHA, spoke to the importance of ALA’s work right now.
“Many Veterans already suffer from respiratory illness and would find ALA’s resources beneficial even outside the context of a global pandemic. During COVID-19, though, these resources are especially valuable,” Dr. Weistreich said. “As is the case with partnerships between VA and other nonprofit organizations, ALA can contribute to helping Veterans by adding to the services VA is already providing.”
For more information on ALA’s work, visit www.lung.org.
For more on OCE’s work and partnerships, visit https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/.
External Link Disclaimer: This page contains links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Posted April 28, 2020
