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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Than 20% of Veterans Seeking Specialty Medical Appointments Can’t Get Through
More than 1 in 5 veterans calling to set up a specialty care appointment with VA were misrouted, disconnected or forwarded to a nonfunctional telephone number, according to a VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigation.
AI Helps VA Decrease Claims Backlogs; GAO Warns of ‘Unintended Consequences’
VA announced recently that its disability claims backlog fell below 70,000 for the first time since February 2020. That success has been partially attributed to technology modernization, which includes the use of AI in early stages of the benefits process.
OIG Report: VA’s Aggressive Deployment of AI in the Clinical Field Considered ‘Risky’
VA policy to minimize the barriers preventing employee use of artificial intelligence (AI ) might be resulting in higher risks for veterans, according to a recent VA Office of the Inspector General report. An investigation found that the agency failed to acknowledge the extent to which providers are using AI chat tools in patient care.
Video Telemedicine Might Match In-Person Diabetes Care Outcomes in Veterans
Telemedicine has become an important tool for managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, particularly for patients facing geographic, mobility or scheduling barriers to specialty care. But new research from the VA suggests outcomes may differ, depending on how remote diabetes specialty care is delivered.
Multiancestor Genomics Sharpens Understanding of Schizophrenia Risk
Schizophrenia is one of the most heritable and biologically complex psychiatric disorders, with decades of research confirming a highly polygenic architecture.
VA OIG Expresses Concerns About Clinical Use of Artificial Intelligence, Patient Safety
While VA’s investment in artificial intelligence is growing year over year, a preliminary report from the department’s Office of the Inspector General raises concerns about the agency’s ability to ensure patient safety.
AI-informed Retinal Biomarkers Predict Risk of Onset of Hematological Malignancies
One of the challenges in early detection of hematological malignancies—and potential improvement in long-term survival—is heterogeneity in clinical presentation.
Veterans With CKD Survived Longer With Telenephrology Care
Has providing access to nephrology specialists improved care for veterans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in remote areas?
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.
Virtual Psychotherapy Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease
The routine assessment and management of depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an essential component of evidence-based interdisciplinary care, according to a new study which found that virtual delivery worked well.
Is Resumption of VA EHR Rollout This Spring Too Much, Too Soon?
As VA prepares to resume the rollout of its electronic health record (EHR) system modernization program this April in Michigan, lawmakers are concerned that the department and its development partner, Oracle, might be overconfident in their ability to deliver.
How Did VA ED Usage for Low-Acuity Conditions Change After Virtual Care Expansion?
Low-acuity VA emergency department (ED) visits decreased rapidly with the U.S. onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, rebounded partially after the expansion of virtual care but remained 12% below baseline by February 2023.
A Combo of Genomics, AI Improves Lower Respiratory Diagnoses, Reduces Unnecessary Antibiotic Use
A new study suggests a way to curb the overuse of antibiotics by using both genetic information and artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately diagnose pneumonia.
Primary Care Provider Burnout Linked to Secure Patient Message Volumes in VA Healthcare Systems
Increasing numbers of secure patient messages are overwhelming primary-care providers in the VA health system and appear to be leading to clinician burnout, according to new research.
Adding Telehealth to In-Person Care Benefits Older Diabetes Patients
Limited studies of telehealth in chronic disease management include older adults with diabetes mellitus, according to a new study.
Questions Raised About Costs, Implementation With AI Expansion at VA
VA leaders are committed to aggressively expanding the agency’s use of artificial intelligence, but, while there is consensus among stakeholders that the potential benefits of AI are significant, there’s also skepticism that VA can achieve its goals in an accelerated timeframe.
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.
Sustained Tele-Critical Care Improves ICU Outcomes in VA Hospitals
Tele-critical care (TCC) aims to put critical-care expertise within reach for every ICU patient, connecting bedside teams with remote intensivists and nurses who monitor patients in real time and step in when complications arise.
Former VA Undersecretary for Health Calls for Adopt Bold Aims in Uncertain Times
Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, DCM, former VA undersecretary for health, urged clinicians and administrators to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for courageous change.
Telehealth-Delivered Cancer Services Similar in Quality to In-person VA Care
Telehealth-delivered cancer services offer similar or better care to veteran patients compared to traditional in-person VA care, according to a recent study.
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.
VA Moving Ahead With Plans to Restart EHR Rollout Next Year
The Trump administration has announced that it will move ahead with VA’s existing plan to restart the electronic health record modernization (EHRM) rollout in spring 2026, beginning with four hospitals in Michigan.
Chronic Conditions Strongly Influence VA Use of Telehealth vs. In-Person Care
As telehealth continues to evolve from a pandemic-era necessity to a core component of modern care, a new national study of VA outpatient encounters revealed that the likelihood of a visit being conducted in person, by phone or via video might hinge on the patient’s chronic condition.
VA Urged to Avoid Large Monolithic IT Projects, Use a More Modular Approach
Legislators, agency watchdogs and VA leaders are in agreement: The department must stop investing in massive, multiyear IT projects whose intention is to solve a technology need in one fell swoop.