Breast cancer remains a significant health concern, particularly among women veterans, who face unique challenges within the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Chief among those challenges is an utter lack of comprehensive data regarding women veterans’ breast cancer experiences.
Last month, a federal judge provided an overwhelming victory to veterans who filed a class-action lawsuit against VA that sought to force the department to build more housing for homeless veterans on its West Los Angeles Medical Center campus.
Traumatic brain injury, especially involving penetration, significantly increased the risk for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in U.S. military servicemembers and veterans, according to a new study.
Native Americans serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any racial or ethnic group. According to the Office of Health Equity, analysis of fiscal year 2016 to 2019 data revealed that American Indian veterans, less than half were enrolled in VA care.
While clinical trials are essential for advancing treatment options in oncology and making certain patients receive innovative care, too few cancer patients are referred to them, according to a new study.
For more than a decade, the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) has been used to standardize the interpretation and reporting of liver lesions in patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Bispecific antibodies represent a new approach to cancer immunotherapy that offers a two-for-one mechanism of action to increase efficacy in treating several types of lymphoma and multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies.
Editor-In-Chief, Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, COL (ret.), MC, USA
Pam and I have had our share of hard knocks this summer. From the ongoing personal and financial trauma of our sailboat/home lightning strike to our latest bout of COVID-19, the hits just seem to keep on coming. I also (finally) finished a fictional novel, but was utterly unprepared for the hell that is getting published.
In 2014, Congress enacted the Choice Act, followed by the MISSION Act in 2018. Introduced in response to concerns that delays in receiving VA care were negatively impacting veterans, these legislations were designed to simplify the process for veterans to access VA-purchased care.
Almost 45% percent of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, with an estimated 4.5% of reproductive age women having an unintended pregnancy each year.
Discontinuation of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) is common but is associated with harmful outcomes in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a recent study.
While clinical trials are essential for advancing treatment options in oncology and making certain patients receive innovative care, too few cancer patients are referred to them, according to a new study.
Does differential access to care explain racial disparities in treatment and outcomes of rectal cancer? A new study from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences suggested that other factors are likely to be at play.
A new study demonstrated how critically the COVID-19 pandemic affected lung cancer screening (LCS).
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect an estimated 1 in 5 servicemembers, making early diagnosis and treatment important for controlling their spread among this high-risk population.
VHA facilities across the United States have experienced a concerning rise in antibiotic resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat the Enterobacterales bacterial species.
For more than a decade, the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) has been used to standardize the interpretation and reporting of liver lesions in patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
U.S. veterans with a history of homelessness had a much greater risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and death, according to a new study, underscoring the role of housing as a social determinant of health.
Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), have faulty cell function that is likely caused by intense exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents during war service, according to a new study.
Treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) showed promise in lowering the incidence of cirrhosis and mortality in veterans with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and diabetes, as long as the drug was initiated early in the course of the disease.
PALO ALTO, CA — Recent surveys found important gaps in knowledge and perceived barriers to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in cirrhosis patients in the United States, especially with primary care providers. Even though hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)...
Older adults with reduced kidney function who start dialysis within 30 days and aren’t referred for transplant have modest gains in life expectancy and less time at home, according to a recent study.
Legislators took DoD and VA to task for their failures to ensure that servicemembers, especially those in need of mental health services, receive a warm handoff from one department to the other upon discharge.
Congress passed an emergency funding bill providing an additional $3 billion to VA to address an unexpected shortfall in the FY2024 budget for the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Bispecific antibodies represent a new approach to cancer immunotherapy that offers a two-for-one mechanism of action to increase efficacy in treating several types of lymphoma and multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies.
A recent report is calling into question the effectiveness of VA’s ATLAS program, a pilot telehealth initiative that places telehealth booths at non-VA community spaces in rural areas where veterans are more likely not to have access to high-speed internet. Veterans can use the booths to conduct telehealth appointments with VA providers.
The mechanism through which heart disease elevates the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) has been investigated intensively.
The X chromosome makes up 5% of the human genome and carries a high proportion of genes expressed in the brain. Yet, it is a relatively unexplored as a potential source of genetic variation in AD, according to a new study.
Breast cancer remains a significant health concern, particularly among women veterans, who face unique challenges within the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Chief among those challenges is an utter lack of comprehensive data regarding women veterans’ breast cancer experiences.
Last month, a federal judge provided an overwhelming victory to veterans who filed a class-action lawsuit against VA that sought to force the department to build more housing for homeless veterans on its West Los Angeles Medical Center campus.
As combat casualty care improved over time during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the use of nontherapeutic laparotomy (NTL) decreased.
Veterans with obstructive respiratory disease should receive timely screening and treatment for comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions that frequently accompany the condition, according to a new study.
VA is projecting a $2.88 billion budget shortfall for the remainder of fiscal year 2024 and another $12 billion for FY2025. This comes after VA leaders spent this spring assuring Congress that its FY2025 budget request, while lean, would be sufficient to do the job.
VA Secretary Reminds Committee He Sought Investigation WASHINGTON, DC—A member of the House VA Committee has called on VA Secretary Denis McDonough to resign over the nearly $11 million in bonuses inappropriately paid to senior VA Central Office (VACO) officials....
The VA covers the veterinary care and the equipment costs of service dogs for veterans with physical disabilities such as blindness or vision impairment, but the use of service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues has remained controversial.
After a serious illness, veterans who received medical care via the Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model experienced fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital compared to those not treated with PARC, according to a recent study.
A recent VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audit has added more fuel to the argument around community care, finding that VA has provided little accountability over the third-party providers tasked with overseeing the department’s community care networks.
While VA’s proposed budget represents a 10% increase from last year, it includes decreases in key areas like hiring and infrastructure.
Pam and I have had our share of hard knocks this summer. From the ongoing personal and financial trauma of our sailboat/home lightning strike to our latest bout of COVID-19, the hits just seem to keep on coming. I also (finally) finished a fictional novel, but was utterly unprepared for the hell that is getting published.
In 2014, Congress enacted the Choice Act, followed by the MISSION Act in 2018. Introduced in response to concerns that delays in receiving VA care were negatively impacting veterans, these legislations were designed to simplify the process for veterans to access VA-purchased care.
Almost 45% percent of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, with an estimated 4.5% of reproductive age women having an unintended pregnancy each year.
Discontinuation of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) is common but is associated with harmful outcomes in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a recent study.
While clinical trials are essential for advancing treatment options in oncology and making certain patients receive innovative care, too few cancer patients are referred to them, according to a new study.
Does differential access to care explain racial disparities in treatment and outcomes of rectal cancer? A new study from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences suggested that other factors are likely to be at play.
A new study demonstrated how critically the COVID-19 pandemic affected lung cancer screening (LCS).
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect an estimated 1 in 5 servicemembers, making early diagnosis and treatment important for controlling their spread among this high-risk population.
VHA facilities across the United States have experienced a concerning rise in antibiotic resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat the Enterobacterales bacterial species.
For more than a decade, the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) has been used to standardize the interpretation and reporting of liver lesions in patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
U.S. veterans with a history of homelessness had a much greater risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and death, according to a new study, underscoring the role of housing as a social determinant of health.
Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), have faulty cell function that is likely caused by intense exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents during war service, according to a new study.
Treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) showed promise in lowering the incidence of cirrhosis and mortality in veterans with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and diabetes, as long as the drug was initiated early in the course of the disease.
PALO ALTO, CA — Recent surveys found important...
Older adults with reduced kidney function who start dialysis within 30 days and aren’t referred for transplant have modest gains in life expectancy and less time at home, according to a recent study.
Legislators took DoD and VA to task for their failures to ensure that servicemembers, especially those in need of mental health services, receive a warm handoff from one department to the other upon discharge.
Congress passed an emergency funding bill providing an additional $3 billion to VA to address an unexpected shortfall in the FY2024 budget for the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Bispecific antibodies represent a new approach to cancer immunotherapy that offers a two-for-one mechanism of action to increase efficacy in treating several types of lymphoma and multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies.
A recent report is calling into question the effectiveness of VA’s ATLAS program, a pilot telehealth initiative that places telehealth booths at non-VA community spaces in rural areas where veterans are more likely not to have access to high-speed internet. Veterans can use the booths to conduct telehealth appointments with VA providers.
The mechanism through which heart disease elevates the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) has been investigated intensively.
The X chromosome makes up 5% of the human genome and carries a high proportion of genes expressed in the brain. Yet, it is a relatively unexplored as a potential source of genetic variation in AD, according to a new study.
While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are independent risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia, the association of their interaction on AD biomarkers has not been clear.
Few people understand the complexity of providing care to homeless veterans and those at risk for homelessness as well as Jack Tsai, PhD.
For more than two decades, the calculation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) — a critical measure of kidney function — included race as a variable.
Older Black Americans are almost twice as likely as white Americans to be affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias, with 21.3% of Black Americans aged 70 and older living with the disease.
VA is close to restarting a software tool integral to allowing the department to track its billing of community providers. The Program Integrity Tool (PIT) has been offline since flaws in the system were discovered in February 2023.
For individuals seeking relief from painful health conditions, there’s low certainty of evidence that massage therapy will ease their pain, according to a recent review article.
A new algorithm could improve care for adult inpatients who need to be evaluated for urinary retention and possible catheterization, according to a recent study.
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.
By March 2020, the SARS-COV-2 virus had reached every inhabited continent on the globe, with devastating impact. In response, the U.S. and many other countries entered lockdowns to slow the spread and reduce deaths from the virus.
For almost three decades, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has enabled people with HIV to have nearly normal life expectancies. But as many as 85% of them experience chronic pain, due in part to common medical comorbidities and the side effects of life-saving treatments.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a range of adverse effects in veterans, and about 7% are affected at some point in their lifetimes. A recent study puts a spotlight on an unexpected co-morbidity—worsening Type 2 diabetes (T2D) outcomes.
In the United States, Black men are at highest risk for being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer.
Even though half of all carriers of inherited cancer-predisposing variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are male, the implications for their health tend to be under-recognized compared to females, according to a new study.
How do prescription medications affect overall survival in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer?
One of the most commonly used medication classes worldwide, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective for treating acid-related stomach disorders, such as ulcers, heartburn or acid reflux.
About six months ago, the James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center became the sixth VA site to switch to the Oracle-Cerner electronic health record (EHR).
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common blood-borne pathogen in the United States, with HCV-related cirrhosis being the leading cause of primary liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
A study involving military researchers has raised concerns about the use of certain types of anesthesia in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
A recent study looked at risk factors for non-variceal bleeding within the first year after diagnosis of chronic liver disease in veterans.
MHS beneficiaries with multiple myeloma (MM) had improved overall survival compared to MM patients from the U.S. general population, according to a new report.