b'INTRODUCTIONEffects of COVID-19 Are Varied,Far-Reaching in Federal MedicineBy Brenda L. MooneyAs this article is written, the UnitedofFederalMedicine,articlesdiscusseverything Stateshasrecentlydocumentedfrom how chronic lung disease patients fare with morethanamilliondeathsfromCOVID-19 to how the pandemic has changed phar-COVID-19. Another milestone wasmacy practice. Another article looks at the rise in reachedinSeptember2021thesuicides among schizophrenia patients during the current pandemic became the deadli- pandemic,whileothersdiscusshowhealthcare-est disease event in American historyacquired infections were impacted and why con-when its death toll surpassed the 675,000 who diedtinuousglucosemonitoringismoreimportant from the Spanish flu, which began in 1918. thaneverbecauseofconcernsaboutCOVID-19 ItsinterestinghowthatH1N1fluepidemicistransmission.often compared to the recent disease outbreak andNot every Compendium article mentions COVID-might offer some hints as to how our current national19 or the pandemic specifically, but the virus and its nightmare might end. The answer is that, even with- wide-ranging effects are an undercurrent in almost out available vaccines, those who contracted the flueverything that occurs in federal medicine. Every virusdevelopedsomeimmunity,whilethevirushealthcare provider job has been made more com-became less lethal over time. By the early 1920s, lifeplicated, whether those are nurses with overloads had somewhat returned to normal. Yet, a form of theof patients because of staff shortages or oncologists H1N1 virus is still with us and is a component of thewho constantly must advise on how cancer patients annual influenza vaccine.should be treated if they contract COVID-19. It remains to be seen whether COVID-19 will followForexample,thebackdropofarticlesontreat-that course. It is indisputable that the almost miracu- ing alcohol use disorder or opioid withdrawal is the louslyfastdevelopmentofvaccines,whichwereunderstanding that those conditions are on an uprise unavailable at the beginning of the 20th century,hasbecause of the stress of pandemic lockdowns and fear saved countless lives in todays pandemic. It also isof the virus. clear that the after-effects of infection with the SARS- But, amidst all of that, the routine work of clinicians CoV-2 virus can be devastating and long-lasting inat the VA and DoD, whether it is tackling deadly can-some cases. In other words, it also is likely to be withcers or managing chronic diseases, continues. And it us for a long time to come. is a credit to the heroism and commitment of those That is a challenge federal medicine faces nowhealthcare professionals that they soldier on in these andwillinthefuture.Inthe2022Compendiumvery complicated times without an end in sight.Brenda L. Mooney Kristin Mendola Annette M. Boyle Editorial Director Vice President, Sales Chief Medical Writermooney@usmedicine.com mendola@usmedicine.com Stephen SpotswoodJames F. Breuning 203-761-0202 Washington CorrespondentPublisher CranCentral Graphicsbreuning@usmedicine.com Art and Production Eden Jackson Landow 609-397-5522 production@usmedicine.com Copy Editor609-397-15388'