Over the past few years, the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs made great strides in coordinating and developing common health and support services along the entire continuum of care.

WASHINGTON—After years of trial and error and glacially slow progress, the new administration hopes that by spotlighting the issue of electronic patient medical record transfer between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs they can spur significant change.

BETHESDA, MD—There are at least 33 million people infected with HIV living in the world today. In the U.S. there are a million infected people, and at least 60,000 new cases a year.

WASHINGTON—Despite declines in HIV incidence among injection drug users (IDU), the practice of HIV risk behaviors remains high among this population, according to a study published in the April 9 issue of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

WASHINGTON—Health is a readiness issue for militaries around the world and HIV is one of the many health issues that militaries must address. In FY 2001, Congress appropriated $10 million to establish the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP).

WASHINGTOn—Enrollment in state and territorial AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) which provide drugs to HIV/AIDS patients with limited or no prescription drug coverage continues to grow, according to a report released last month by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD).

WASHINGTON—The White House, Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month announced a new $45 million, five-year national communication campaign aimed at combating complacency about the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States.

WASHINGTON—President Obama last month nominated Maj. Gen. Charles Bruce Green, USAF, MC, to become the nextAir Force Surgeon General.

WASHINGTON—Thomas Frieden, M.D., commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was named the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 15.

WASHINGTON—Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs S. Ward Casscells, M.D., recently stepped down from his position after serving two years.