Currently in Place for Radiology, Ophthalmology
WASHINGTON - Under pressure to develop an accurate method of assessing physician output and determining appropriate staffing levels at medical facilities, the VA has agreed to establish productivity models for five additional specialties by the end of this fiscal year.

Opinion poll:
Does VA have an appropriate number of specialty physicians to meet patient-care needs? Please click here to participate in this month's U.S. Medicine readership poll.

New Research Indicates Water Contamination Began in 1953
WASHINGTON - Legislation signed into law in August was applauded for offering medical care through VA for veterans and family members exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, NC.

SAN DIEGO - The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of canagliflozin might soon offer new treatment options for the more than one million VA patients with diabetes.

BLAINVILLE, QUEBEC - Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat pregnant women experiencing nausea and vomiting.

DUBLIN, OH - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) Injection, the first new drug used for lymph node mapping to be approved in more than 30 years.

WESTON, MA - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) capsules to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

JACKSON, MS - Despite assurances that problems have been addressed at the G.V. (“Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center here, veterans expressed their anger to VA leaders during a town hall meeting held at the facility last month.

When Is a Patient Too Old to Benefit?
SAN FRANCISCO - A handful of new studies on the harms and benefits of mammography screening for older women give VHA physicians more information but no easy answers.

By Annette M. Boyle

PROVIDENCE, RI - Active-duty women have far higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than their male colleagues or civilian counterparts, and the military services are trying to help young servicemembers avoid the types of behavior that can create medical issues.

AUBURN, AL - Early in his military career, David R. Crumbley MSN, CWCN, assistant clinical professor at the Auburn University School of Nursing, became inspired to help people through medicine.