Despite strong messaging over the last few years that VA would protect employees who come forward about wrongdoing in the workplace, the percentage of whistleblowers who experience retaliation from co-workers is growing.
OIG Calls for Update of 2008 VA Mental Health Services Handbook
VA’s mental health services handbook is almost a decade out of date, making consistent care more difficult to achieve and possibly putting veterans’ safety at risk, according to a report by the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
VA Renegotiates EHR Contract With Oracle, Seeking More Developer Accountability
VA has renegotiated its $10 billion contract with Oracle, the developer of its troubled new electronic health record (EHR) system, which is currently in use at only five sites across the VA healthcare system.
Adherence to Diabetes Medications Remained High During COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk diabetes patients who were treated in the VA Healthcare System adhered to their diabetes medication regimens and maintained high primary care use, even though virtual care replaced in-person care, according to a recent study.
VA Makes Argument in Congress for Its Record-Setting $325.1B Budget Request
VA vociferously defended its proposed FY2024 budget before Congress in an effort to justify the record-setting $325.1 billion request—a 5.4% increase over last year’s enacted budget.
Telemedicine Increase During Pandemic Put Spotlight on Possible Disparities
The VA has long been a leader in the use of virtual healthcare to improve access to care. When the pandemic caused shutdowns in 2020, virtual care became even more important at the VA.
VA Demonstrates Success in Remote Treatment of Aggressive Cancers
Initially, the TeleOncology service managed oral therapies and watchful waiting and surveillance of veterans with cancer, but it has expanded to offer remote supervision for intravenous cancer treatments.
VA Study Shows Low Use of Primary Care for Reproductive Health Services
The integration of reproductive health services into primary care practices is increasingly recognized as critical to the advancement of patient-centered care and improving reproductive outcomes.
Decline in Cerebral Cortical Thickness Linked to PD Cognitive Decline
What effect does reduced cerebral cortical thickness have in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Fewer Parkinson’s Motor Issues 11 Years After Deep Brain Stimulation
More than a decade after deep brain stimulation (DBS), early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients appeared to have fewer motor complications than those treated only with medications, according to a new study.
Cognitive Impairment Can Affect Parkinson’s Gait Rehab
What is the effect of baseline cognition on gait outcomes after a treadmill training program for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients?
Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Linked to Stroke in T2D
What is the association between cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) with incident stroke among diabetes mellitus patients?
Time in Range Beneficial in Patients With Individualized A1c
Individualizing hemoglobin A1c treatment goals in older adults is important to balance risks in benefits, according to a new study.
Deployed Servicemembers Had Lower Cancer Risks Than Those Who Weren’t
Despite concerns about exposure to hazardous material, military personnel who deployed to Southwest Asia actually had a lower risk of dying from cancer than their colleagues who were never deployed, according to a new study.
VA Stops All EHR Rollouts; Says It Plans a ‘Reset’ of Program
VA has called a halt to all future deployments of its new electronic health record (EHR) system in order to prioritize fixing issues at the five sites where the system is already deployed.
At All Levels, Chief Medical Office Scavella Focused on Best Care for Veterans
For a VA physician, it can be a challenge to figure out the best treatment plan for a patient and implement it, and the victory comes when the veteran’s health and quality of life is improved.
Promotion Delays Affecting Military Readiness But Senator Won’t Budge
Delays in promotions directly impacts military readiness, DoD officials have said. But there isn’t much they can do about it as long as Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is blocking the expedited promotion of more than 150 military generals and flag officers
VA Secretary McDonough: PACT Act Claims Numbers Still Too Small
VA has had more than a half-million claims filed under the new PACT Act legislation, which expands care and benefits for former servicemembers exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service.
VA Slowly, Steadily Rolls New Pay, Hiring Authorities Those Could Increase Salaries for Some Staff
While VA is moving quickly to roll out new pay and hiring authorities, the impact might take time to trickle down to VA staff in non-supervisory roles or those whose salaries are not near the top of their profession’s pay cap.
Republicans Seek to Overturn VA Policy to Provide Abortion Services
Republicans in the House and Senate have reintroduced a resolution to reverse VA’s recent policy change that allows for limited abortion counseling and services at its facilities.
HCC Surveillance Rebounded at VA, Still Low
How did the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic affect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance and factors associated with completion at the VA?
Legislators Want More Accountability in VA’s New EHR Contract
VA is in the process of renegotiating its agreement with Oracle-Cerner over its new electronic health records (EHR) system, and legislators on both sides of the aisle are concerned that the new contract be more favorable to the VA and hold the EHR manufacturer more accountable for ongoing problems with the system.
Military Surgeons Deployed to Combat Environments Face Moral Injury, Distress
A new VA study may be the first to examine moral injury and distress at the intersection of these populations—that is, military healthcare professionals, specifically surgeons
VA Analysis Sought to Determine Best Approach for Treatment of Alcohol Misuse
A new study sought to determine that. Noting that psychosocial approaches are “the hallmark of treatment for harmful alcohol use,” the report in the journal Addiction added, “We aimed to compare the effectiveness of psychosocial therapy for harmful alcohol use using a network meta-analysis approach.”
Measuring Ability to Resist in Alcohol Abuse Treatment
While about half of patients with alcohol use disorder prefer non-abstinence based approaches to treatment, it is not clear when that approach is beneficial.
Substance Use Disorders Increasing Fastest Among Older Veterans
The past few years have seen significant increases in diagnoses for cannabis and stimulant use disorder at the VA, especially among older adults.
Ovbiagele Focuses on Disparities in Stroke Among Veterans, Others
Many factors play into why some populations have a higher risk of having and dying from a stroke: genetics, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, access to healthy food, lifestyles that do not allow for regular exercise.
Vitamin D Supplementation Shows Promise for Reducing Suicide Risk
Supplementation with Vitamin D appeared to be associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempt and self-harm in veterans, especially those who are Black and have low blood serum levels, according to a VA-funded study.
COVID-19 Pandemic Spotlighted Weaknesses in VA Healthcare System
During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA was called on to serve in its “fourth mission” role as a backstop to the nation’s healthcare system.
New Bill to Raise VA Physician Salary Cap Goes to Full Senate
The Senate VA Committee has advanced sweeping bipartisan legislation that would allow VA to raise the salary cap for physicians to above $400,000.