One of the best aspects of the sailing lifestyle is discovering new anchorages and meeting the local people. Recently, after a spectacular downwind sail with consistent 10-15 knot winds off the starboard quarter (what sailors mean by fair winds and following seas), we dropped our hook at Boot Key in Marathon, Florida. Marathon is home to The Turtle Hospital, a fascinating non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sea turtles. Sea turtles are Shavasana’s (our Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran) ‘spirit’ animal, and a graphic of five sea turtles graces our bows. Pam and I felt a visit to the Turtle Hospital a must. We were not disappointed and recommend a tour of this fascinating facility if you happen to be traveling the Florida Keys.
Better Understanding of What Patients Want from Breast Reconstruction Surgery
As many as 40% of breast cancer survivors are dissatisfied after breast reconstruction due to unexpected outcomes that don’t meet personal preferences.
Results Mixed for Military Toxic Exposure Effect on Breast Cancer Incidence
Little work has been done to investigate the relationship between MEE and risk of breast cancer.
Tailoring Imaging Regimens Could Detect More Second Breast Cancers
Women at a high risk of interval second breast cancers might benefit from additional surveillance imaging modalities, according to a new study.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Improve Overall Survival for VA NSCLC Patients
DURHAM, NC -- Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients showed significant benefit from the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in a study looking at use of the therapy for five major cancer types in the VA healthcare system. The study from the VA’s National...
High Intensity of End-of-Life Care for Minority Patients With Lung Cancer
While disparities in lung cancer mortality among racial and ethnic minorities are well documented, not as much is understood about how racial and ethnic minority patients with lung cancer are treated at the end of life.
Risk Model Helps Predict Second Lung Cancer in Survivors of Initial Malignancy
Lung cancer survivors have a high risk of developing second primary lung cancer (SPLC); the risk is three to four times higher than the risk of someone in the general population developing initial primary lung cancer (IPLC).
Study: Vietnam War-Era Veterans Not at Increased Risk of Suicide Mortality
Veterans who served in the Vietnam War era, either in theater or not deployed, are not at increased risk of suicide mortality compared with the U.S. population, although the number of suicides among these veterans is noteworthy and merits the attention of mental health professionals and policymakers, according to a recent study.
Does ‘Underserved’ Designation Demoralize Staff at VA Facilities?
For the past several years, VA has been identifying the most underserved facilities in its system and requiring them to create action plans to improve care to their veterans.
Thiazide Diuretics Associated With Reduced Risk of Kidney Stones
Using thiazide diuretics is associated with statistically significant lower odds of developing kidney stones, which supports the use of the products for kidney stone prevention, according to a recent study.
VA Telemedicine Rates Remain High After COVID-19 Pandemic, Especially for Mental Healthcare Visits
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine rates for veterans enrolled in VA healthcare services remained high, accounting for more than half of mental healthcare visits, while telephone-based care has decreased to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent study.
Psychoactive Drug Ibogaine Effectively Treats TBI Complications
The signature injury of U.S. veterans from recent military conflicts, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of injury-related disability.
Internal VA Investigation Verified Sexual Harassment Complaints Within ORMDI
An internal VA investigation has verified many, though not all, of the sexual harassment allegations made public by members of the House VA Committee in January.
Rare Congressional Subpoena for VA in Sexual Harassment Investigation
The House VA Committee has voted to subpoena VA Secretary Denis McDonough to release documents pursuant to an ongoing sexual harassment investigation involving several supervisors in VA’s Office of Resolution Management, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Shields Helped Implement Program to Bring Infusion Closer to VHA Patients
The idea for VA’s Close To Me Infusion Service has its roots in many places, One of them a veteran that Jenna Shields, PharmD, BCOP, saw weekly at the Pittsburgh VAMC.
Opposing Trends for Accidental Death Rates in Returning Soldiers
A longitudinal cohort study, published in the Annals of Epidemiology, determined if risk for accidental death overall, or the most common types of accidental deaths, varied over time in relation to when a soldier returned from a combat deployment.
Sleep Disruption Common in VHA Subacute Rehabilitation Facilities
Sleep disruptions are common at VHA subacute rehabilitation facilities, according to a new study recommending the examination of environmental factors.
Surgery, Rehab Helps Restore Some Function After SCI
How effective is surgery in restoring upper extremity function in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI)?
Study Seeks to Gauge Rehab Benefit With Advanced Prosthetics
Rehabilitation and its possible effects are rarely part of the research that goes into the design or evaluation of prosthetic componentry, according to a prospective new study.
Enlarged Prostate Drug Has Potential as Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
A class of medication used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, or non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, shows potential as a treatment to delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study.
More Research Needed on High Melanoma Rates in AI/AN People
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people have the second-highest rate of melanoma in the United States after non-Hispanic white people.
Cause of Kidney Injury After Procedures Not Always Contrast Media
The administration of iodinated contrast media is not responsible for all changes in creatinine levels in patients undergoing the procedures.
Black Veterans Get CKD Younger, Have Lower Death Rates
The younger age of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Black patients can help explain some of the differences and disparities compared to white patients with CKD, according to a new study.
Much More Dual Testing for CKD Needed Within VHA
A new study that included VA researchers made the case for much more dual testing for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in high-risk patients to improve disease management and patient outcomes.
Processing of ICE Medical Claims by VA Sparks Controversy in Congress
Republican legislators butted heads with VA officials last month over the question of whether department resources were being spent on immigrants who have been placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Issues With Pharmacy Module in VA EHR Could Cause Medication Errors
Ongoing problems with the pharmacy module in VA’s new Oracle electronic health record (EHR) have the potential to lead to medication errors, increasing lawmakers’ concern about plans to expand the new system.
VA Has Low Rates of Preoperative Life-Sustaining Treatment Documentation
Surgery is a significant healthcare event that necessitates timely planning for goals of care (GOC), involving discussions about one’s current values, aspirations and treatment preferences.
Mortality Rises in VHA Inpatients With COVID-19 Plus HAI Infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), an opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with healthcare-associated infections, has a high mortality rate. The organism’s high virulence and ability to rapidly acquire resistance to antibiotics make PA infections a treatment challenge.
New Study Defines Clinically Important Measures of Diabetes Distress
The term “diabetes distress” is used to describe the emotional response to living with diabetes, a life-threatening illness that requires chronic and demanding self-management.
VA Healthcare Found to Generally Be More Efficient Than Private Care
Several recent studies have shown that VA healthcare is consistently as good as—or better than—non-VA healthcare. Now a study shows VA healthcare is also more efficient.
