More than half of VHA primary care practitioners responding to a survey reported being burned out, and nearly one-third said they planned to leave, according to a new study examining the effects of high patient panel fullness.
News
Bipartisan Uproar Occured When Legislators Heard About Billions in Possible VA EHR Cost Overruns
A congressional hearing on the status of VA’s electronic health record system rollout began with accusations from both Democrats and Republicans of incompetence and corruption and ended with a committee vote to subpoena the chief of Oracle, the system’s manufacturer.
Current Issue
Coast Guard Acknowledges Brain Injury Risk from Its High-Speed Craft
Coast Guard leaders have acknowledged the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to its servicemembers caused by repetitive, violent impacts while riding in high-speed craft and promised to improve how the service identifies and prevents brain injury.
Exposure to Explosive Devices Linked to a Various Conditions Years Later for U.S. Veterans
Exposure to high-level blasts from incoming explosive devices or land mines appear to increase the risk for veterans to later develop conditions affecting a range of body systems, according to a new study.
2026 Compendium
New Solutions for an Old Problem: Extending Dopamine Effectiveness in Parkinson’s Disease
Deep brain stimulation works well for some Parkinson’s disease patients for some period of time, but the long-term benefits might not be as promising, according to a new VA study. That brings clinicians back to their problem of decades: How to extend dopamine benefits to avoid “off” episodes. New pharmaceuticals might offer the answers.
First-Generation Weight Loss Drugs Still Play a Vital Role in Patient Care at VA
As obesity remains a significant threat to health worldwide, first-generation obesity medications continue to play an important role in clinical practice, according to a recent review article.
Nearly a Quarter of Active-Duty U.S. Servicemembers Meet Obesity Definition
Obesity poses an increasing threat to U.S. military readiness, with more than half of active-duty servicemembers classified as overweight and about a fourth as obese. Yet, weight loss medications continue to be underused. Find out why and how increasing political pressure might change that.
Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, COL (ret.), MC, USA | Opinion Columnist
Social Media Is a Very, Very Powerful Tool. It Also Gives Power to Tools
I recently had an interesting experience that raised concerns about the impact of social media platforms on human health. I am particularly concerned about the impact of social networking sites on the mental health of children and young adults.
Throughout my professional career, I have benefited from the writing skills handed down to me by my educator mother (Thanks, Mom.). Beyond this monthly column, I have parlayed my writing prowess into professional manuscripts, textbooks and several successful medical research grants. I have often quipped that the only decent high school skill I have carried throughout my career was learned in typing class.
VA Survey Finds Primary Care Nurses Might Not Be Working to Full Scope of Practice
In the VHA’s Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTS) system to provide optimal primary care (PC) for veterans, all members of the PACT are expected to function at the top of their training and scope. That is not the case, however, with nurses, according to a recent survey and analysis.
Larger Health Information Exchange Volume Improves Select Patient Outcomes
A greater volume of health information exchange, the electronic sharing of patient medical information among healthcare organizations, appears to affect patient outcomes for community care and VHA direct care settings differently. In one setting, it improves patient outcomes, but, in the other, the effects are neutral or adverse, a recent study suggested.
Very Low Percentages of Veterans Have Received Contraception Information from Providers
In U.S. veterans of reproductive age, having greater healthcare engagement and more reliance on providers as trusted sources of contraceptive information could improve their knowledge, according to a recent study.
OIG: VA Remains Challenged in Filling Medical, Other Staff Positions
According to the annual Office of Inspector General (OIG) staffing report, VA hospitals are facing an increase in hiring challenges compared to last year, with facilities reporting a total of 4,712 severe staffing shortages spread across 389 occupations. This is up from 4,434 in fiscal year 2025.
VA Finally Announces Overhaul of Its Decentralized Police Force
After years of ignoring warnings that its decentralized police force resulted in inconsistent standards and lax security at hospitals, VA announced it will be overhauling the force, raising pay rates and creating a unified chain of command that it hopes will solve its long-running issues.
Tele-Robotic Surgery Appears to Be a Highly Feasible Surgical Option for Combat Casualties
Using tele-robotic surgery to provide surgical care for combat casualties is highly feasible, according to a recent study that found latency, or the time delay between an input command and the robotic platform’s response to that command, wasn’t a barrier to using the technology.
Young Veterans More Likely to Have Higher Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Than Civilians
Young veterans are more likely to have higher levels of “forever chemicals” in their bloodstream than their civilian counterparts, a recent study has confirmed. While researchers could not say for sure what caused the elevated levels, it’s long been established that many military facilities are contaminated due to their use of the chemicals to fight fires.
Two-Way Link Found Between TBI and Neurologic Disorders in Older Veterans
Older veterans who sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are significantly more likely than their peers to have been diagnosed with neurologic conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke or epilepsy even before the injury occurs, according to a new retrospective cohort study.
Target Doses of ACE Inhibitors Reduce Risk of Death, Kidney Failure in Some HF Inpatients
In veteran patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), using higher target doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) before discharge reduced the risks of death and kidney failure, according to a recent study.
Severe Maternal Morbidity, 30-Day Readmissions Linked to Delivery Volumes at Military Hospitals
In women who delivered at U.S. military hospitals between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, obstetric delivery volume, the number of annual births was significantly associated with severe maternal morbidity and the possibility of 30-day readmissions, according to a recent study.
Executive Order Pushes Technology Updates at DoD, VA
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing DoD and VA to update their technology and policies to allow for ongoing sharing of servicemember’s records from the moment they enroll in the military.
PTSD, Health-Related Social Needs Together Increase Cognitive Risks Significantly in Veterans
A recent study asked a question critically important to VHA clinicians: Are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) associated with incident mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias among U.S. veterans?
Later PSA Screening, Higher Initial PSA Linked to Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Veterans
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. veterans, with about 15,000 veterans diagnosed and treated through the VA each year. PSA screening can help detect prostate cancer early, but determining how screening can best identify men at risk for serious disease has been a challenge.
New VA/DoD Obesity Guideline Strongly Recommends Semaglutide, Tirzepatide
A new synopsis of the VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for managing adult overweight and obesity pushes clinicians to look beyond a single number on the body mass index (BMI) when assessing health.
How Low Is Enough for PSA Levels After Prostate Cancer Treatment?
Reaching a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 0.2 ng/mL after starting androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can maximize the chance of survival, according to a new study.
Later Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Use in Black Veterans Spotlights Inequity
For men with homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficient metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), PARP inhibitors can be life-prolonging therapies. Estimates of PARPi benefit in diverse patient populations are limited, however.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Lower Risk of Male Breast Cancer
Because male breast cancer is a rare although increasingly recognized disease, there are limited data on modifiable risk factors. Not as much as known about the condition in men vs. women, where it is significantly more common.
Deployment Doesn’t Appear to Affect Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival
Unlike many types of cancer which affect older adults, classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) commonly affects adolescents and young adults (AYA), including military servicemembers.
More Veterans Screening Positive for Depression and PTSD
More veterans are screening positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even as measures of suicide risk and alcohol-use disorder show modest improvement, according to a large new study of more than 3.6 million veterans receiving care through the VA.
Survival After MI Affected by Acute Kidney Injury, Baseline Renal Function, Troponin Levels
Baseline kidney function, acute kidney injury (AKI) and troponin levels are associated with short- and long-term survival after myocardial infarction (MI), a newly published VA study found.
Burned Out by Caring for Too Many Complex Patients, Almost One-Third of VHA PCPs Want to Quit
More than half of VHA primary care practitioners responding to a survey reported being burned out, and nearly one-third said they planned to leave, according to a new study examining the effects of high patient panel fullness.
Bipartisan Uproar Occured When Legislators Heard About Billions in Possible VA EHR Cost Overruns
A congressional hearing on the status of VA’s electronic health record system rollout began with accusations from both Democrats and Republicans of incompetence and corruption and ended with a committee vote to subpoena the chief of Oracle, the system’s manufacturer.
New CDC Director Confirmed as Childhood Vaccine Executive Order Sparks Controversy
Last month, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Erica Schwartz, MD, MPH, JD, a former Navy physician and chief medical officer of the Coast Guard, as director of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) despite fears from both Republicans and Democrats that she will fail to push back against the anti-vaccine agenda of the Trump administration.
Military Toxic Exposures Appear to Affect Both Mental and Physical Health in Veterans
Environmental hazards encountered during military service, such as Agent Orange and toxins from open-air burn pits, are known to be linked to adverse physical health outcomes. The VA recognizes them as presumptively service related under the Agent Orange Act of 1991 and the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022.
TRICARE’S Pharmacy Contract with Express Scripts Under Fire at Senate Hearing
Lawmakers are calling for an independent audit of TRICARE’s pharmacy program amid concerns that the contractor tasked with managing the program is pushing servicemembers toward its own pharmacies and driving out smaller retailers.
VA Whole Health Team Approach Outperforms CBT, Usual Care for Chronic Pain
A large, multisite randomized trial has delivered the first rigorous test of the VA’s Whole Health approach to chronic pain, finding that an interdisciplinary whole-health team modestly outperformed both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and usual care in reducing how much pain interferes with veterans’ daily lives.
Pediatric Acute Respiratory Infections Lead to Lost Workdays for Active-Duty Servicemembers
Pediatric acute respiratory infections result in absenteeism for both children and their caregivers who are active-duty servicemembers, leading to lost duty days and reduced military readiness, according to a recent study.
Geriatric Surgery Program Enhances Care Coordination, Promotes Safer Surgeries for Older Veterans
A program developed to address the challenges that older adults experience when undergoing surgery has improved the coordination of care for older veterans and promoted safer, more goal-aligned surgery for older adults, according to a recent study.
Plan for Homeless Veterans Haven in Los Angeles Continues to Be Plagued by Problems, Cost Concerns
While VA is lauding its progress in creating a haven for homeless veterans on its West Los Angeles campus, lawmakers are concerned about ongoing delays in the project and the unprecedented level of secrecy required of contractors.
Military Will No Longer Require Annual Influenza Vaccines for Personnel
Annual influenza vaccines are no longer mandatory for military personnel.
Social Media Is a Very, Very Powerful Tool. It Also Gives Power to Tools
I recently had an interesting experience that raised concerns about the impact of social media platforms on human health. I am particularly concerned about the impact of social networking sites on the mental health of children and young adults.
Throughout my professional career, I have benefited from the writing skills handed down to me by my educator mother (Thanks, Mom.). Beyond this monthly column, I have parlayed my writing prowess into professional manuscripts, textbooks and several successful medical research grants. I have often quipped that the only decent high school skill I have carried throughout my career was learned in typing class.
VA Survey Finds Primary Care Nurses Might Not Be Working to Full Scope of Practice
In the VHA’s Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTS) system to provide optimal primary care (PC) for veterans, all members of the PACT are expected to function at the top of their training and scope. That is not the case, however, with nurses, according to a recent survey and analysis.
Larger Health Information Exchange Volume Improves Select Patient Outcomes
A greater volume of health information exchange, the electronic sharing of patient medical information among healthcare organizations, appears to affect patient outcomes for community care and VHA direct care settings differently. In one setting, it improves patient outcomes, but, in the other, the effects are neutral or adverse, a recent study suggested.
Very Low Percentages of Veterans Have Received Contraception Information from Providers
In U.S. veterans of reproductive age, having greater healthcare engagement and more reliance on providers as trusted sources of contraceptive information could improve their knowledge, according to a recent study.
OIG: VA Remains Challenged in Filling Medical, Other Staff Positions
According to the annual Office of Inspector General (OIG) staffing report, VA hospitals are facing an increase in hiring challenges compared to last year, with facilities reporting a total of 4,712 severe staffing shortages spread across 389 occupations. This is up from 4,434 in fiscal year 2025.
VA Finally Announces Overhaul of Its Decentralized Police Force
After years of ignoring warnings that its decentralized police force resulted in inconsistent standards and lax security at hospitals, VA announced it will be overhauling the force, raising pay rates and creating a unified chain of command that it hopes will solve its long-running issues.
Tele-Robotic Surgery Appears to Be a Highly Feasible Surgical Option for Combat Casualties
Using tele-robotic surgery to provide surgical care for combat casualties is highly feasible, according to a recent study that found latency, or the time delay between an input command and the robotic platform’s response to that command, wasn’t a barrier to using the technology.
Young Veterans More Likely to Have Higher Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Than Civilians
Young veterans are more likely to have higher levels of “forever chemicals” in their bloodstream than their civilian counterparts, a recent study has confirmed. While researchers could not say for sure what caused the elevated levels, it’s long been established that many military facilities are contaminated due to their use of the chemicals to fight fires.
Two-Way Link Found Between TBI and Neurologic Disorders in Older Veterans
Older veterans who sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are significantly more likely than their peers to have been diagnosed with neurologic conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke or epilepsy even before the injury occurs, according to a new retrospective cohort study.
Target Doses of ACE Inhibitors Reduce Risk of Death, Kidney Failure in Some HF Inpatients
In veteran patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), using higher target doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) before discharge reduced the risks of death and kidney failure, according to a recent study.
Severe Maternal Morbidity, 30-Day Readmissions Linked to Delivery Volumes at Military Hospitals
In women who delivered at U.S. military hospitals between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, obstetric delivery volume, the number of annual births was significantly associated with severe maternal morbidity and the possibility of 30-day readmissions, according to a recent study.
Executive Order Pushes Technology Updates at DoD, VA
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing DoD and VA to update their technology and policies to allow for ongoing sharing of servicemember’s records from the moment they enroll in the military.
PTSD, Health-Related Social Needs Together Increase Cognitive Risks Significantly in Veterans
A recent study asked a question critically important to VHA clinicians: Are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) associated with incident mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias among U.S. veterans?
Later PSA Screening, Higher Initial PSA Linked to Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Veterans
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. veterans, with about 15,000 veterans diagnosed and treated through the VA each year. PSA screening can help detect prostate cancer early, but determining how screening can best identify men at risk for serious disease has been a challenge.
New VA/DoD Obesity Guideline Strongly Recommends Semaglutide, Tirzepatide
A new synopsis of the VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for managing adult overweight and obesity pushes clinicians to look beyond a single number on the body mass index (BMI) when assessing health.
How Low Is Enough for PSA Levels After Prostate Cancer Treatment?
Reaching a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 0.2 ng/mL after starting androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can maximize the chance of survival, according to a new study.
Later Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Use in Black Veterans Spotlights Inequity
For men with homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficient metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), PARP inhibitors can be life-prolonging therapies. Estimates of PARPi benefit in diverse patient populations are limited, however.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Lower Risk of Male Breast Cancer
Because male breast cancer is a rare although increasingly recognized disease, there are limited data on modifiable risk factors. Not as much as known about the condition in men vs. women, where it is significantly more common.
Deployment Doesn’t Appear to Affect Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival
Unlike many types of cancer which affect older adults, classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) commonly affects adolescents and young adults (AYA), including military servicemembers.
More Veterans Screening Positive for Depression and PTSD
More veterans are screening positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even as measures of suicide risk and alcohol-use disorder show modest improvement, according to a large new study of more than 3.6 million veterans receiving care through the VA.
Survival After MI Affected by Acute Kidney Injury, Baseline Renal Function, Troponin Levels
Baseline kidney function, acute kidney injury (AKI) and troponin levels are associated with short- and long-term survival after myocardial infarction (MI), a newly published VA study found.
Machine-Learning Models Can Predict Risk of Suicide and Suicide Attempts in U.S. Army Soldiers, Study Finds
Machine learning methods can be used to predict which U.S. Army soldiers are at comparatively high risk of suicide and suicide attempts over the next 24 months, possibly allowing earlier interventions, according to a recent study.
Lymphoma Survivors Often Return to Deployment When Achieving Remission
A cancer diagnosis has often been viewed as the end of a military career, particularly for servicemembers whose duties require deployment to austere or remote environments.
HHS Secretary’s Campaign Against Vaccines in Military Medicine, Other Departments
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is continuing to take aim at a variety of vaccine policies despite significant pushback from Republicans and Democrats in Congress as well as physicians and healthcare organizations.
RSV Vaccine Shows 85% Effectiveness Against Hospitalization in Veterans
Each year, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) leads to tens of thousands of hospitalizations among U.S. adults age 65 years and older, with the greatest risk among people with cardiopulmonary disease, diabetes, frailty and immunocompromising conditions.
Higher BMI Linked to Influenza-Like Symptom Severity in MHS Beneficiaries
Having a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with greater influenza-like illness incidence and symptom severity in adult MHS beneficiaries, according to a recent study.
Pentagon to Reimburse Troops for Sperm and Egg Freezing Before Deployment
Nearly 2,000 U.S. troops suffered debilitating injuries to their groins or genitals during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2000 and 2013, and about 307,000 more sustained some type of head injury over the same period, all injuries that can compromise fertility and sexual function.
Financial Distress Linked to Higher Suicide Risk in Veterans
Approximately 17 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the latest VA data. As such, identifying factors to assist clinicians in recognizing a veteran’s increasing suicide risk has become increasingly important. A new study pointed to one factor that might deserve more attention—financial distress.
New Ferritin Thresholds Recommended in Guidelines Have Benefits, Disadvantages
Clinical management guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in 2020 sought to standardize iron deficiency anemia (IDA) management.
VA Quickly Canceled $1.1 Billion of Contracts During DOGE Era in 2025
VA cancelled hundreds of vendor contracts totaling $1.1 billion during a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-led review in 2025, according to a review by the VA Office of the Inspector General.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Persist in Pediatric Asthma Despite Military Health Insurance Coverage
Asthma is a common and potentially life-threatening illness that can affect children from all races and ethnicities, but the burden of asthma is not shared equally. Previous studies have shown there are racial/ethnic variations in the prevalence, treatment and outcomes of asthma; these variations can be attributed to barriers to accessing healthcare, costs associated with healthcare and the larger social determinants of health.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Protected Patients With Autoimmune Rheumatic Conditions
With changes at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), confusion about who should get what seasonal vaccines has burgeoned. That might especially be the case with patients who have comorbidities such as autoimmune conditions.
Here Are Factors That Might Alleviate Burnout in VHA PCPs
What would help mitigate burnout and the desire to call it quits among primary-care practitioners in the VHA?
Alcohol Linked to Less CVD but Higher Cancer Risk in Veterans Study
Alcohol’s relationship with health is complicated: The same pattern of drinking that can be associated with lower rates of cardiovascular events and death in a large study of U.S. veterans also was linked to increased cancer risk.
Combination Treatment With Radiation Therapy Showed Promise for Prostate Cancer Survival
Adding pelvic lymph node radiation therapy (PLNRT) and short-term androgen deprivation therapy (STADT) to salvage prostate bed radiation therapy (PBRT) is beneficial for biochemical progression-free survival for patients treated for prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Specific NSAID Use Is Linked With Lower Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease Prevalence
Do NSAIDs show promise in reducing the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in patients who use them? A new study says the answer is yes, especially with diclofenac and naproxen. Find out what differences were found and what the researchers believe to be the effects of NSAIDs on cognitive decline.
Routine EHR Data Can Help Assign Probable Dementia Status
More than half of older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are undiagnosed, limiting timely access to person-centered care, according to a new study.
Need for Early Initiation Affects Usage of Amyloid-Targeting Therapies for Alzheimer’s
When should amyloid-targeting therapies for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease?
Who in the Military Is Most Likely to Get a Devastating ALS Diagnosis?
Military service is considered one of the most consistent risk factors for the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, not much research has been done to determine which characteristics make servicemembers more or less likely to develop the rare, progressive disease characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Rare Neurologic Syndromes Can Reveal Hidden Cancers Before Diagnosis
Neurologists rarely address hematology and oncology audiences directly, but at the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO) annual meeting in Austin Sept. 11-13, Tammy L. Smith, MD, PhD, made the case that they should listen more closely to what the nervous system is telling them.
Targeted Therapies Expand Options for Servicemembers, Dependents With Brain Tumors
For decades, standard care for most primary brain tumors changed little: Surgery to remove what could be extracted safely, radiation when surgery wasn’t option or following surgery and a short list of chemotherapies that were often nearly as hard on patients as the tumors themselves.