The Military Health System (MHS) is often cited as a model for reducing healthcare disparities because every beneficiary is covered by the same insurance.
Call for Testosterone Screening of Many Servicemembers Draws Criticism from Legislators
When Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced last month that the military will begin screening male servicemembers for low testosterone, the new policy drew criticism and questions from Democrats. But, the proclamation also fell into line behind a larger effort by current public health officials to loosen rules around testosterone therapy.
Diabetes Staging System Improves Care for Type 2 Diabetes Patients In VA Primary Care Clinics
Guideline-concordant care for veteran Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients improved with use of the Diabetes Staging System to guide treatment, predict survival and create a shared language for care in VA primary care clinics.
U.S. Veterans with Lung Cancer Experienced Greater Survival Gains Than Other U.S. Patients
Advances in lung-cancer screening and treatment have improved survival for patients across the United States. But new research suggested that healthcare delivery might be just as important as medical innovation in determining outcomes.
Diabetes Staging System Improves Care for Type 2 Diabetes Patients In VA Primary Care Clinics
Guideline-concordant care for veteran Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients improved with use of the Diabetes Staging System to guide treatment, predict survival and create a shared language for care in VA primary care clinics.
About Half of Post-9/11 Veterans Found to Have High Blood Pressure, Often Undiagnosed, Untreated
High blood pressure, often undiagnosed and untreated, is widespread among post-9/11 U.S. veterans and is found at a much greater rate compared to the general public, according to a new study.
One-Fifth of Women in U.S. Army Not Getting Contraception Needs Met
Nearly 20% of women in the U.S. Army with a need for contraception potentially had that need unmet for 12 months, resulting in twice the rate of unintended pregnancy compared to women whose contraception needs were met, according to a new study.
Expansion of Trauma Readiness Center Helps Prepare Clinicians for Combat Casualties
The Air Force recently celebrated a significant expansion of its trauma readiness center in Cincinnati. That is where military medical personnel can hone skills they’ll need to treat combat casualties.
Eye Tests Revealed That Brain Trauma Can Persist in Veterans More Than a Decade After Concussion
Brain function differences can continue in veterans more than a decade after concussion, according to a new study which found the subtle deviations through specialized eye movement testing.
Agent Orange Exposure Linked to Higher Cardiovascular Risks for Veterans
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era might face higher odds of requiring coronary artery bypass graft surgery after coronary stent procedures, along with a greater overall burden of cardiovascular risk factors, according to a retrospective analysis of VA data.
Deployment Linked to Higher Rates of Chronic Sinus Disease, Related Airway Conditions
Deployed military servicemembers have considerably higher rates of chronic sinus disease and related airway conditions compared to their nondeployed counterparts.
Too Much Use of VA Primary-Care Telehealth Falls Short of In-Person Visit Quality
Used somewhat sparingly, telehealth for primary care is essentially comparable to in-person visits, according to a new report.
Duration-Based Lung Cancer-Screening Criteria Might Improve Equity Among Diverse Populations
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and early detection through screening is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality. Yet despite expanded eligibility criteria, racial and ethnic disparities in lung cancer screening persist.
COVID-19 Infection Linked to Metabolic Disease Risk in U.S. Active-Duty Military, Study Finds
In U.S. active-duty servicemembers, COVID-19 infection was associated with significantly increased risk of developing hypertension, hyperlipidemia and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, according to a recent study.
Mapping the VA Dermatology Workforce: Where Veterans Have—and Lack—Access to Skin Care
The VA is one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the United States, serving nearly 8 million enrolled veterans. Yet, despite veterans’ elevated risk of skin disease and skin cancer, few national studies have examined who VA-affiliated dermatologists (VADs) are or where they practice.
Modestly Increasing Cardiorespiratory Fitness Significantly Lowers Risks of Alzheimer’s, Other Dementia in Veterans
Modestly improving cardiorespiratory fitness in low-fit veterans lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) 13%-24%, according to a new study.
Aeromedical Evacuations Higher for Mental Health Conditions During Decreased Military Conflict
During decreased military conflict, mental health conditions are often the leading cause of aeromedical evacuations. In fact, these conditions have been the key reason for aeromedical evacuations from the U.S. Central Command since 2009, according to a recent review article.
Veteran Study Identifies Very Strong Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Parkinson’s Disease
For veterans with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was exceedingly higher than those without. The good news, however, is that the risk can be greatly reduced if they used continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Newly-Recognized Upper GI Symptoms Add to the Toll of Gulf War Illness
For decades, most research on Gulf War illness (GWI) has centered on neurological problems, fatigue and lower gastrointestinal (GI) issues. But a new study published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology shifts attention to an often-overlooked area—upper GI symptoms—revealing how common and impactful they are among Gulf War veterans.
Called Armistice Day or Veterans Day, November 11 Honors Those Who Served
Armistice Day, observed annually on November 11, marks the anniversary of the armistice signed between the Allied powers and Germany that ended World War I. The agreement took effect on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.
VHA Facilities Report 50% Increase in Severe Occupational Staffing Shortages
VHA facilities are reporting a 50% increase in severe occupational staffing shortages from FY 2024 to FY 2025, according to a recent VA Office of the Inspector General report. All VA facilities reported some level of severe staffing shortage, with 94% reporting them in medical officer occupations and 79% in nursing occupations.
Why Are VA Internists More Satisfied With Their Jobs Than Non-VA Counterparts?
Internists who work for the VA have to deal with a burdensome bureaucracy and a complex case load of often older patients with a range of co-morbidities.
Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma Patients Treated at DoD Fare Better Than Those in Community
Patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma in the DoD Cancer Registry had a better 5-year overall survival compared with a matched sample of U.S. patients from a national database.
Women, Minority Veterans Are at Highest Risk of Opioid Overdose Deaths
From 2010-2019, the risk of death from opioid overdoses increased 61.2% in male veterans but not female veterans, according to a recent study.
Heavy Equipment, Aircraft Maintenance Lead to Military Inhalational Exposures
The risks of inhalational exposures are well known on the battlefield or in other deployment areas.
AI Can Detect Hidden CVD Disease With Scans Stored in VA Patients Records
Another practical use of artificial intelligence to improve healthcare and save lives has been developed, and—not surprisingly—the VA played a key role in the effort.
Lower Use of Low-Titer O Whole Blood for Trauma in Women of Childbearing Age
Males are more likely than females of childbearing potential to receive low-titer O whole blood during trauma resuscitation, according to a recent study, but the authors suggested the concerns leading to the differences might not be well-founded.
Burnout Trends Persist Among VA Healthcare Workers Despite Post-Pandemic Decline
Burnout among healthcare workers in the VA soared during the COVID-19 pandemic and still remains a challenge, particularly in primary care, mental health and nursing services, according to a large new VA study.
For Younger Veterans, ‘Camaraderie’ Is an Important Feature of VA Healthcare
With all of the political debate about the increasing privatization of VA care—the Trump administration and many Republicans pushing it, while many Democrats are resisting—the voice of one important stakeholder group might be drowned out.
Military Surgeons Raise Alarm About Combat-Casualty Readiness
The current state of combat-casualty readiness in the military health system has degraded to the point where the country is unprepared to care for the casualties that would result from a major conflict, experts told Congress last month.