VA’s main website, va.gov, and several of its support systems have been the victim of bugs that have caused tens of thousands of VA benefits claims to go unprocessed.
Pregnant Veterans Often Discontinue Antidepressants, Monitoring Needed
VA medical providers and veterans need more education about the risks and benefits from continuing antidepressants during pregnancy, according to a new study.
Combat-Related Extremity Amputation Negatively Affects Metabolic Regulation
Although amputations are medically necessary and could decrease pain, improve mobility and expedite return to activity, limb loss could negatively impact metabolic regulation and contribute to a higher risk of obesity, according to a recent military study.
Sustained Virologic Response in HCV Not Lower With Alcohol Use
Traditionally treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reserved for people who have abstained from alcohol—in some cases for as long as 12 months—largely due to concerns about adherence to treatment protocols, which stemmed from experience with previously used interferon-based regimens.
Army Names Kenney and Petty Best Medics for 2023
Anyone with a 68W military occupation specialty signs up to go above and beyond the call of duty as a matter of course. As combat medic specialists, they provide life-saving treatment in the chaos and trauma of battle and accept responsibility for the health and well-being of their fellow soldiers on base.
Bloodletting Is Among the Ingredients of Political Medicine
On Sept. 12, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that every American 6 months and older should receive the updated COVID-19 vaccination from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Having avoided COVID-19 infection since its arrival on our shores in 2020, I was pleased that an updated booster would soon be available, and my wife scheduled a time for us to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. Alas, my number was up, and the fickle finger of fate allowed COVID-19 to set up shop in my body.
CLL Patients at the VA Receive Evidence-Based Treatments
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) are the most common forms of adult leukemia. More than 13,000 veterans have the diagnosis, which is associated with the toxic exposures included in the Pact Act, according to the VA.
B-cell lymphoma Presenting With Cranial Nerve Palsy, Mononeuritis Multiplex
Diagnosing B-cell lymphoma-associated mononeuritis multiplex, a peripheral neuropathy, can be challenging because of its rarity and the potential co-existence of other causes of the symptoms.
Older Age of DLBCL Patients Makes Treatment Challenging
Nearly one-half (49%) of all veterans in the United States are 65 years or older. Most of those older veterans (5.5 million) served during the Vietnam era, while 183,000 were World War II veterans, according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS).
Adenoma Detection Rate, Other Factors Important in Avoiding Advanced CRC
Polypectomy can reduce the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Determining Risk Factors Could Allow Early Colorectal Cancer Screening
There is a troubling increase in the incidence of CRC in adults younger than age 50 in the United States and other high-income countries.
Outcomes Are Similar for Laparoscopic, Robotic Surgeries for Colon Cancer
Which is better: laparoscopic or robotic surgery? That is the question raised in a recent study from Yale University School of Medicine and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven.
Anti-Suicide Program Offering Free Emergency Care Shows Some Success
At the beginning of this year, VA announced a program whereby veterans in suicidal crisis could go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare.
VA Has Good Record Hiring Some Minorities, but Few End Up in Top Management
Over the last decade, VA has increased the percentage of employees who are non-white, but those employees are more likely to be paid less, be fired more and receive fewer raises and awards, as well as, less vacation time, according to a new report.
Five Facilities Where New Cerner EHR Is Live Face Continuing Issues
As VA approaches the 3-year anniversary of the Cerner electronic health record system going live at its first site, the roll-out remains on indefinite hold as the department endeavors to fix problems at the five facilities where the system is active.
New Journal Article Decries Lack of Recognition for Military Medicine
A new Special Communication in JAMA Network Open decried that military medicine’s contribution to healthcare advances often are overlooked and that not enough communication occurs between civilian and military clinicians.
No Increase in Cancer Identified With Use of Ranitidine Vs. Other H2RAs
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked manufacturers to remove from the market all products containing ranitidine, a histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) that has been widely used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease.
Too Few VA Anal Cancer Exams in HIV Patients
Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients are at high risk for anal cancer, screenings are recommended annually for U.S. veterans with HIV.
Uterine Cancer Mortality Increased Sharply in Some Groups
Since the beginning of the 21st century, uterine cancer mortality has increased, especially among Black and Hispanic women, according to a new study.
Pandemic Declines in Cancer Diagnoses Persisted for Two Years
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, significant declines in cancer diagnoses occurred. But what happened from the end of 2020, the first year, and after widespread vaccination occurred?
Daily Naltrexone Use Doesn’t Negatively Affect Performance in Soldiers
Daily use of naltrexone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids with minimal side effects, doesn’t adversely affect the physical, cognitive or marksmanship performance of U.S. Army soldiers, according to a recent study.
Military Health Mammography Lapses During Pandemic Spotlights Disparities
Breast cancer screening within the Military Health System (MHS) plummeted by 74% in the early COVID-19 pandemic period and 22% in the late pandemic period, compared with the prepandemic period.
Frailty in Older Veterans Increases Their Risk for Long COVID Symptoms
Older veterans diagnosed with frailty are at much greater risk of developing long COVID after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. Making that especially significant is that so many older VHA patients, including those living in the community, meet the criteria for frailty.
VA Researchers Spotlight Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Liver Cancer Care
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related death in the United States. But a new study points out that the burden of the often deadly cancer is not spread equally.
Trial of Fluticasone Furoate Didn’t Show Benefits for COVID-19 Outpatients
Inhaled glucocorticoids do not appear to be effective in shortening the time to symptom resolution or preventing hospitalization or death among outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, according to a recent study.
Liver Cancer Risk Low for Veterans Who Clear HCV Without Treatment
The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, is low for veterans who spontaneously clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
No Excess Late Mortality for Veterans Who Survived COVID-19
The devastating toll of acute COVID-19 infections on human lives is well documented. Yet a pressing question remains: Do survivors of acute COVID-19 face a higher risk of mortality in the aftermath of their infection and, if so, for how long does this risk persist?
Heat-Related Illness Among Veterans Showing Nationwide Rise
Environmental heat can adversely affect health, resulting in heightened healthcare demands, disability and even mortality. The combination of particular medical conditions with the ongoing global temperature increase may exacerbate susceptibility to heat-related ailments.
Genetic Risk Factors Lead to Potential Therapeutic Targets for Heart Failure
Heart failure affects nearly 6.2 million adults in the United States and disproportionately impacts veterans. The long-term prognosis of heart failure is poor, with a five-year mortality rate of 50%, raising the demand for new therapeutic opportunities.
Deportation Increases Risk of Poor Health for Noncitizen U.S. Veterans
For noncitizen U.S. military servicemembers, deportation can increase the risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes, making this group a vulnerable and often overlooked health disparity population, according to a recent study.
