Extended Prescribing Dropped from 9.5% in 2012 to 6.2% in 2016
By Brenda L. Mooney
IOWA CITY, IA—Long-term prescribing of opioid painkillers is on the decline at the VA, in contrast to what appears to be happening outside of federal medicine.
VA Cancer Patients Less Likely to Receive Excessive Care at End of Life
VA patients dying of cancer are far less likely to receive excessive and unnecessary end-of-life interventions than those treated by Medicare.
New VA Budget Requests Seeks Community Care Expansion
WASHINGTON — Calling the Trump administration’s fiscal years 2019 proposed budget for VA “very strong,” VA Secretary David Shulkin, MD, told lawmakers that it “provides the resources to continue VA modernization and to respond to the...
With New Hires, VA Has Net Increase of 8,303 Employees; Still Needs Mental Health Professionals
By Sandra Basu WASHINGTON—VA made progress in filling its vacancies last year with a net increase of 8,303 employees, but the agency still struggles to find enough mental health professionals, especially in light of a new executive order increasing eligibility for...
DoD, VA Still Struggle with Diagnosing, Treating Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
Diagnosing and treating mild traumatic brain injury continues to pose challenges for clinicians, TBI experts told lawmakers.
VA Promises to Resolve Late Payment Issues with Community Healthcare Providers
Slow Reimbursement Frustrated Clinicians, Hurt Veterans’ Credit By Sandra Basu WASHINGTON—Citing the importance of providing payments in a “timely and consistent manner,” the VA announced that it has revised its regulations for payment and reimbursement of non-VA...
Advanced NSCLC Patients Still Receive Aggressive Treatment
Aggressive care for cancer patients appears to be increasing at the end of life, and the VA is part of that trend, according to a new study.
New Executive Order Guarantees a Year of Mental Healthcare After Separation from Service
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the DoD, VA and Homeland Security departments develop a plan to ensure that all new veterans receive mental healthcare for at least one year following their separation from service.
Rocky Mountain VAMC Construction Remains Controversial; Set to Open Later This Year
The long delayed and over-budget Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center in Aurora, CO, is finally scheduled to open its doors in August 2018.
Retired Naval Officer Prepares Nursing School Students to Treat Military Personnel, Veterans
By Stephen Spotswood AUBURN, AL—As more and more veterans begin seeking care in the civilian sector, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that medical centers and educational institutions need to adapt to serve this new patient population. That need was certainly...
Is Stroke Hospitalization Higher for Mentally Ill Veterans?
A recent study raises questions about whether stroke survivors with severe mental illness are at risk for increased nonpsychiatric hospitalization at the VHA compared to stroke survivors without prior psychiatric diagnoses.
VA Reduces Email Burden for Clinicians to Allow More Time, Focus on Patients
By Annette M. Boyle WASHINGTON—Concerned about how much time clinicians spend reading and responding to emails, the VA is changing its messaging system so that more of their focus can be on patient care. The new approach to the inbox notifications system, developed in...
Veterans Treated by VA Often Have Risk Factors for Elder Abuse
The VHA should take a lead role in combatting elder abuse, which affects at least 10% of older adults in the United States, according to a recent medical journal article.
Post-Menopausal Veterans Frequently Prescribed Long-term Opioid Therapy
The VA has focused on reducing the risk of opioid abuse and addiction by issuing guidance that strongly recommends against the use of the painkillers for chronic pain since the implementation of the Opioid Safety Initiative in 2013.
Change in VA/DoD Guidelines for Low Back Pain Surprising Even for Authors
If VA clinicians are surprised by the significant changes in the updated recommendations recently issued by the VA and DoD for the diagnosis and management of low back pain, they are not alone. The evidence review even shocked many members of the work group that wrote the new clinical practice guidelines.
Shortage of Supplies Might Have Delayed Medical Procedures at VAMCs
In response to complaints that clinicians at VAMCs lack adequate medical and surgical products to care for veterans, VA conceded it needs to make its product formulary more robust.
VA, DoD Slash Time for Disabled Servicemembers to Get Through Evaluation Process
The time for injured and ill servicemembers to get through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System process from their date of referral to their notification of benefits has been slashed more than half in the last decade.
Congressional Efforts Seek to Improve, Expand Veterans Choice Legislation
Lawmakers have approved a continuing resolution that included $2.1 billion to temporarily continue VA’s Choice program.
VA Study Resolves Debate Over Renal Protective Agents Used in Angiography
Is it better to use sodium bicarbonate or -N-acetylcysteine to prevent acute kidney failure related to common angiography procedures?
Annual DC ‘Stand Down’ Brings Homeless Veterans Into VA Healthcare’s Fold
During the Vietnam War, in order to help battle-weary soldiers obtain a moment of reprieve from combat operations, the military held stand downs at secure base camps.
David Shulkin Gets Promotion, Appointed New VA Secretary
David J. Shulkin, MD, who currently serves as under secretary for health and heads VHA, has been picked by the incoming Trump Administration as new VA Secretary.