Key Protein in TBI Patients Can Determine Who Needs CT Scans WASHINGTON-A blood test for TBI may have potential for reducing CT scans in emergency departments, a new study has found. A small study published online in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that patients with TBI had significantly higher blood levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) than patients without these injuries. While testing for the protein is not a substitute for CT scans, it could rule out patients who do not need expensive imaging, according to the authors. Morel
Long-term Health Impact of Burn Pits Inconclusive, Study Says WASHINGTON-The data on troops' exposures to emissions from open-air burn pits is insufficient to say whether these emissions could cause long-term health effects, a new Institute of Medicine report has concluded. Based on its analysis of data from air monitoring efforts conducted by DoD at Joint Base Balad, the committee concluded that levels of most pollutants of concern at the base were not higher than levels measured at other polluted sites worldwide. The committee did note that a review of the literature and the data suggests that service in Iraq or Afghanistan might be associated with long-term health effects, particularly for vulnerable servicemembers. More
RelayHealth wins VA’s ‘Blue Button’ Contest WASHINGTON - And the winner is ... VA announced that RelayHealth, McKesson’s connectivity business is the winner of the “Blue Button for All Americans” contest. In the contest, sponsored by VA’s Innovations Initiative (VAi2), RelayHealth won the $50,000 contest prize by making a Blue Button personal health record (PHR) system available to all patients, including veterans, of more than 25,000 physicians across the country. More
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NOVEMBER ISSUE
Army Readiness Eroded By Increasing Numbers of Medically Unfit Soldiers WASHINGTON - As troops are being drawn down, even while the demand on the force continues, a growing percentage of Army troops are medically unfit for duty, Army officials said at the recent Association of the U.S. Army 2011 Annual Meeting and Exposition. About 30% of the National Guard and Reserve and as many as 15% of the active-duty force are not able to deploy for medical reasons, with musculoskeletal injuries being the most common cause. Frequent headaches, body mass and nutritional deficits also contribute to the problem, they said. More
Poor Coordination Between VA, DoD Still Hampers Wounded Warrior Program WASHINGTON - Poor synchronization between DoD and VA may be leading to a worsening of patient-care coordination. If the two departments do not start working together quickly to solve the issue, it could adversely affect the health of the veterans they are meant to be serving, government investigators warned. Congress members are taking VA and DoD officials to task for their poor synchronization and what appears to be unwillingness by DoD to give VA recovery coordinators sufficient access to patients. More
WASHINGTON - The number of drug shortages reported annually has nearly tripled over the last five years, with much-needed drugs such as chemotherapy, anesthetics and electrolytes disproportionately affected. In 2005, 61 drug shortages were reported to FDA. By 2010, that number had grown to 178, with 132 of those involving sterile injectable drugs. This trend has continued into 2011, which will see an even greater number of drug shortages by year’s end without intervention. Earlier this month, the White House announced a plan to try to combat that trend. Please read this article and participate in this month's online opinion poll about whether pharmaceutical manufacturers should be required to inform FDA six months in advance if they are discontinuing any drug?More
Case Underscores Strict Outside Payment Rules for Federal Physicians WASHINGTON - Government employees are under strict rules about accepting outside gifts and outside payments. A reminder of that came last month with news that an Army doctor was ordered by a U.S. District Court last month to pay nearly $13,000 after accepting illegal payments from a medical device company. The case involved a cardiologist who pleaded guilty to accepting illegal payments from a medical device manufacturer. More
Editor-in-Chief, Chester ‘Trip’ Buckenmaier III, MD, COL, MC, USA
If I were unfortunate enough to sustain a severe trauma, I would prefer to be taken to a U.S. Military Combat Support Hospital (CSH) over nearly all other medical institutions in the world. I do not believe I am exaggerating when I suggest the American CSH and evacuation system is the most efficient and advanced source of trauma care and transport on the planet. It is no secret to my readers that I am proud of federal medicine, its accomplishments and the population in its care.
Then I am reminded that hubris is considered the most serious of the seven deadly sins. I will explain. More
WASHINGTON - As troops are being drawn down, even while the demand on the force continues, a growing percentage of Army troops are medically unfit for duty, Army officials said at the recent Association of the U.S. Army 2011 Annual Meeting and Exposition. About 30% of the National Guard and Reserve and as many as 15% of the active-duty force are not able to deploy for medical reasons, with musculoskeletal injuries being the most common cause. Frequent headaches, body mass and nutritional deficits also contribute to the problem, they said. 
