[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 7701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02828]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0701]


Agency Information Collection (VA Form 10-21081 Bereaved Family 
Member Satisfaction Survey) Activities: Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the 
collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes 
the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and 
burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before March 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 
17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0701 (Bereaved Family Member Satisfaction Survey)'' in any 
correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed 
online through the FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records 
Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-7492 or email 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0701(Bereaved Family Member Satisfaction Survey)'' in any 
correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: Bereaved Family Member Satisfaction Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0701.
    Type of Review: Revision of an approved collection.
    Abstract: The death rate for Veterans will continue to grow as the 
number of Veterans 85 years of age and older is projected to increase 
by 32 percent between 2009 and 2018. Given this trend, the VA will face 
substantial challenges in providing care to Veterans near the end of 
life. For example, extensive data from non-VA health care systems 
demonstrates that physical symptoms like pain, dyspnea and nausea are 
common in advanced illness, but are under-recognized and inadequately 
managed. Other studies have found that providers often lack the time 
and communication skills to discuss goals of care and treatment 
preferences with patients and families; there is strong evidence that 
when providers fail to discuss goals of care with patients and 
families, patients often receive unwanted, aggressive life-sustaining 
treatment that is not consistent with their preferences. A related 
problem has been the high incidence of deaths in an acute care setting. 
As many Veterans approaching end of life may prefer a more quiet and 
comfortable setting than can be provided in acute care, with improved 
communications and availability of services much of this end of life 
care could be shifted to a VA hospice unit or to hospice in the 
Veteran's home. The VA has been and continues to be a leader among 
healthcare systems in the provision of hospice and palliative care. 
National VA initiatives have been implemented and continue to support 
the development and expertise of palliative care consult teams.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published at 79 FR 70282, on November 25, 2014.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,833 burden hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,000.

    Dated: February 6, 2015.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Crystal Rennie,
VA Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-02828 Filed 2-10-15; 8:45 am]
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