Last month, VA began processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis for veterans who served in southwest Asia and some other areas.
News
Despite Delays, NCAA Attorney Donald Remy Confirmed as VA’s Deputy Secretary
Former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) attorney Donald Remy, an Army veteran, has been confirmed by the Senate to be the VA’s deputy secretary.
Defense Health Agency’s COVID-19 Vaccine Research Sparks Controversy
Research on rare adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines has thrust the military into the center of the rancorous controversy about vaccination safety, causing some Congress members to question whether immunization against novel coronavirus should be required by the nation’s uniformed services.
Current Issue
The 22nd and Last Kandahar Rotation
The Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan has been a world-class trauma hospital staffed by medical professionals from the United States and six other countries: Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
Military, VA, Other Federal Medicine Agencies Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines
The Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine paved the way for a sweeping vaccine mandate for military personnel.
COVID-19
With a National Housing Crisis, Veteran Homelessness Remains a Concern
From 2010 to 2016, the number of veterans living on the streets dropped by half and the ending veteran homelessness within a decade appeared feasible.
Unexpected Benefit for Minority Veterans: Easier Access to COVID Testing
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the impact of disparities in access to healthcare and ongoing differences in the seriousness accorded to minority patients’ health concerns. It also revealed significant benefits of receiving care through the VA.
COVID-19 Pandemic Provides Lessons on Protecting VA LTC Facilities
The VA can learn important lessons from how it handled infection control in its senior centers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
Editor-In-Chief, Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, COL (ret.), MC, USA
Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country
My editorials for U.S. Medicine are rarely challenging to produce. I certainly appreciate the outlet and the opportunity to comment on issues of general interest to the federal medicine community. Admittedly, I have struggled more this month than any month before to produce something meaningful. I understand that you may disagree with my opinions.
How Mandatory HCP Vaccines Affect Infections
The VA led the way among federal agencies in requiring front-line health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It later expanded the requirement to most VHA employees, volunteers and contractors who work in those facilities or come in contact with veteran patients and healthcare workers as part of their duties.
COVID-19 Shots Protected VA Cirrhosis Patients
Administration of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to veterans with cirrhosis resulted in a delayed and modest reduction in infection rates. Excellent protection against related hospitalization or death was achieved, however, according to a new study.
No Link Between AMI, Two-Dose HBV Vaccine
The overall prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in the United States is estimated to be around 1.59 million That’s one of the reasons the DoD, which has required hepatitis B vaccination for new recruits for nearly 20 years, added the mandate for existing servicemembers to receive the vaccine in 2014.
AMA, Other Physician Groups Strongly Oppose New VA Standards of Practice
Partly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA late last year released an interim final rule clarifying that VA nurses and other healthcare professionals can deliver services in a state other than their state of licensure, registration or certification.
VA Will Use Rescue Funds to Digitize Records Used for Veteran Claims
The VA will use millions of dollars from its American Rescue Plan grants to expand the scope of the digitization of federal records. One key goal is to reduce a backlog of record requests created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Veterans Receiving Total Knee Replacements at VA Facilities
Thanks to the MISSION Act, VA is increasing purchasing healthcare for veterans in the communities where they live.
Some Patients Who Would Benefit Most From Telemedicine Can’t Access It
Telemedicine offers convenient healthcare for many, but those who could stand to benefit most could be the least able to access it, according to a new analysis.
Deprescribing BP Medications in Older, Frail Patients Can Be Right Thing to Do
Growing evidence from observational studies signals that prescribing multiple antihypertensive prescriptions might do more harm than good in older patients with polypharmacy and comorbid conditions.
PTSD Medications Change Over Time in VHA
What medications tend to be prescribed for veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and how has that changed over time?
Somatic Symptom Disorder Ups PTSD Risk
In somatic symptom disorder, patients develop too much focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, which causes them significant distress and often creates problems for normal function, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
VA Begins Processing Claims for New Conditions Related to Agent Orange
Last month, VA began processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis for veterans who served in southwest Asia and some other areas.
Despite Delays, NCAA Attorney Donald Remy Confirmed as VA’s Deputy Secretary
Former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) attorney Donald Remy, an Army veteran, has been confirmed by the Senate to be the VA’s deputy secretary.
Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country
My editorials for U.S. Medicine are rarely challenging to produce. I certainly appreciate the outlet and the opportunity to comment on issues of general interest to the federal medicine community. Admittedly, I have struggled more this month than any month before to produce something meaningful. I understand that you may disagree with my opinions.
How Mandatory HCP Vaccines Affect Infections
The VA led the way among federal agencies in requiring front-line health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It later expanded the requirement to most VHA employees, volunteers and contractors who work in those facilities or come in contact with veteran patients and healthcare workers as part of their duties.
COVID-19 Shots Protected VA Cirrhosis Patients
Administration of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to veterans with cirrhosis resulted in a delayed and modest reduction in infection rates. Excellent protection against related hospitalization or death was achieved, however, according to a new study.
No Link Between AMI, Two-Dose HBV Vaccine
The overall prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in the United States is estimated to be around 1.59 million That’s one of the reasons the DoD, which has required hepatitis B vaccination for new recruits for nearly 20 years, added the mandate for existing servicemembers to receive the vaccine in 2014.
AMA, Other Physician Groups Strongly Oppose New VA Standards of Practice
Partly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA late last year released an interim final rule clarifying that VA nurses and other healthcare professionals can deliver services in a state other than their state of licensure, registration or certification.