In recent years, the conventional wisdom has been that patients at risk for suicide after being diagnosed with cancer usually were older white males with advanced or poor-prognosis cases.
Many Female Veterans Unaware They Can Get Menopause Symptom Care at VA
Nearly half of women veterans who receive VA healthcare are at an age when menopause is most likely to occur. But, while VA offers care for menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and issues with memory, mood and sleep, an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the majority of women veterans are unaware those services exist.
Head and Neck Cancer Rates Highest in Active-Duty Army Servicemembers Who Are Male, Older
Active-duty servicemembers who are male, enlisted in the Army and age 40 and older have the highest incidence rates of head and neck cancer, according to a recent study.
Legislators, Former Defense Health Board Members Object to Discontinuation of Mandated Military Flu Shots
The Pentagon is partially walking back its decision to make the influenza vaccine entirely voluntary, granting exemptions to the policy change for the services, including requiring it for all recruits entering basic training.
Pharmacogenomic Testing Could Reduce Adverse Effects, Therapeutic Failure in MHS
Pharmacogenomic testing is an underutilized resource in the Military Health System (MHS) that could reduce adverse drug events and therapeutic failure.
House Passes Legislation to Restore Collective-Bargaining Rights of Federal Workers
The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would restore the collective-bargaining rights of federal workers, including the majority of VA employees. Those rights were removed following an executive order from President Donald Trump in March and carried out by VA leadership in August.
Hospital Discharge Leaves Many Older Adults Vulnerable to Medication Errors
Hospital discharge represents a critical transition point for older adults, particularly for those managing chronic cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.
Nonhealing Wounds From Battlefield Injuries, Chronic Conditions, Surgery Create Medical Challenges
During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than half of all injuries involved the extremities.
Study Uncovers the Hidden Toll of War-Zone Deployment on Families
Deployment to a war zone can leave lasting marks not only on servicemembers, but also on the loved ones who support them.
Non-Combat Health Threats Pose Ongoing Challenges for Military Readiness
When most people think of military casualties, combat injuries often come to mind. Yet, throughout history, the majority of threats to servicemember health have come not from the battlefield but from disease and nonbattle injuries (DNBI).
Algorithm Aims to Improve Care for Veterans With Hard-to-Treat Epilepsy
Accurate identification of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE)—a severe form of epilepsy in which seizures continue despite treatment with multiple medications—is essential for improving outcomes. Yet, because DRE is not explicitly coded in medical records, many patients who could benefit from specialized care go unrecognized.
Veteran Transition Screener Could Strengthen Individualized Veteran Support
The online Veteran Transition Screener, a tool developed to equip veteran-serving providers with real-time data reports on clients’ military-to-civilian transition assimilation status and risks, shows promise for potentially strengthening individualized veteran support, according to a recent study.
Homeless Veterans Who Get Housing, Twice as Likely to Be Screened for Cancer
Here’s an effective way to improve cancer screening among homeless veterans who are eligible for cancer screening but not up to date: Find housing for them.
Special Forces Soldiers Less Likely to Attempt Suicide; More Likely to Succeed
U.S. Army special operations forces (SOF) operators—elite soldiers trained in unconventional warfare—are less likely than other soldiers to engage in suicidal behavior. But, because their attempts are more often fatal, SOF have similar rates of self-inflicted death as other soldiers.
Deployed Veterans Have ‘Normal’ Testing Despite Respiratory Problems
Despite having seemingly normal lung function tests, many veterans with a history of deployment still experience significant respiratory symptoms and limitations.
Unintended Pregnancy Accounts for Loss of Almost 2.5 Million Military-Readiness Days
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.
Early Dialysis Leads to Modest Gains in Life Expectancy, Less Home Time
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.
Review Finds Little Evidence That Massage Therapy Relieves Painful Health Conditions
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.
Nearly $15 Billion Budget Shortfall Must Be Addressed This Month, VA Officials Said
Congress recessed for August without passing legislation to close the nearly $15 billion budget shortfall VA is facing for this year and next. The shortfall, which came to light in July, includes $2.88 billion for the remainder of FY2024 and $12 billion for FY2025.
VA EHR Rollout at Lovell Federal Healthcare Center Better Than Previous Sites, But Legislators Say Some Issues Persist
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).
Real-World VA Study Shows Substantial Mortality Benefit From Lung Cancer Screening
Veterans who underwent VHA lung cancer screening were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage and had higher cure rates than those who were not screened, according to a new observational study.
Processing of ICE Medical Claims by VA Sparks Controversy in Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to prohibit the VA from processing claims for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Service Corps at the Department of Homeland Security.
War on Terror Created High Rates of Ocular Trauma in U.S. Servicemembers
The rate of combat ocular trauma in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom exceeded that of any past U.S. conflict. A new study looked at the long-term effects of the devastating battlefield injuries.
Problems Persist for Servicemembers Transitioning to VA Services
When the required transition classes prior to discharge from the military are delayed, servicemembers might not be aware enough about VA healthcare and benefits. That can affect their ability to undertake a smooth transition to civilian life.
Initiative Utilizing the VIONE Dashboard Reduces Polypharmacy in Veterans
Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple and often unnecessary medications, poses significant health risks to patients, including frailty, hospital admissions, falls and even mortality.
Traumatic Brain Injury Associated With Cognitive Decline in Later Life
In male veterans, having at least one traumatic brain injury is linked to having lower cognitive scores in later life, according to a twin study
VA Will Assess Leukemias, Multiple Myeloma as Presumptive Service Conditions
In what could be the first conditions added to the new PACT Act, the VA is conducting a scientific review to determine any relationship between three conditions—acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and multiple myeloma outside of the head and neck—and toxic exposures for servicemembers who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and the entire Southwest Asia theater of operations.
Despite Hiring at a Record Pace, VA Struggles to Meet PACT Act Demand
The 1-year anniversary occurred last month of the signing of the PACT Act—the sweeping legislation that expanded healthcare and benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.
Study Finds Significant Regional Variations in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Survival Rates Within Nationwide VA Healthcare System
Veteran populations have five times the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—the most common primary malignancy of the liver, which occurs largely in patients with underlying chronic liver disease—compared to the general population
Despite Allergic-Type Reactions, Military Study Found Many Patients Can Tolerate Second Dose of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine
Although serious allergic reactions to mRNA vaccines are extremely rare, fear of them has driven hesitancy among some potential recipients. That especially has been the case when an adverse effect occurred after the first dose.
