Water Supply Investigated
PITTSBURGH - An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a VA hospital in Pittsburgh has led to at least one death and sent hospital administration searching for the source of the contamination.

Most Vets Now Settle in Only a Few States
BELLINGHAM, WA — Changing demographics for veterans in United States, with most now settling in the South and the Southwest, often in rural areas, has potentially profound implications for how and where VA offers services.

BOSTON - For the first time, researchers have categorized chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease associated with repeated brain trauma in military combat and contact sports, into four stages of severity.

MINNEAPOLIS — In a rare study that looked at optimal treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) in men, researchers from the Minneapolis Veterans Health Care System found that treating the condition for more than a week does not appear to reduce risk of recurrence. In fact, they found, when compared with a shorter course of treatment, the longer course can sometimes have some significant downsides.

WASHINGTON - The VA published a proposed regulation in the Federal Register last month that would make it easier for veterans with certain diagnosable illnesses associated with brain injuries to claim benefits.

WASHINGTON - In a contentious hearing, members of a House committee accused the VA of being too slow in responding to congressional questions about conference spending and of repeatedly changing estimates of how much was actually spent on meetings in 2011.

DETROIT--Using a titration protocol with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and then positive (PAP) with oxygen effectively eliminates central sleep apnea (CSA) in veterans with underlying comorbid conditions and prescription opioid use, according to a new study from the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medicine Center in Detroit.1

Non-Pharmacologic Approaches Being Tested, More Data Gathered
PITTSBURGH - Antidepressants and antipsychotic medications are being overused or prescribed inappropriately for residents of VA Community Living Centers (CLCs), according to recent research.

WASHINGTON - The VA has been under pressure by Congress to reform management of its policy of appointing fiduciaries to oversee care for veterans unable to do it themselves.

WASHINGTON — A group of federal medical facilities has earned accolades this fall for “exemplary” performance in using evidence-based care processes.