Veterans Affairs News and Research

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Joint Hearing of Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs: MOPH National Commander testifies

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, National Commander Jim Sims will testify on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) before a Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.

5 Mar 2010

Paralyzed Veterans: Much more needs to be done for America's veterans with disabilities

Today, Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Gene A. Crayton praised Congressional leaders for making Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare funding an advance appropriation, but urged that much more needs to be done for our nation's veterans with disabilities.

5 Mar 2010

Veterans Health Care Budget Reform: DAV honors Obama for support

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Commander Roberto "Bobby" Barrera today presented a personalized commemorative baseball bat to President Barack Obama to recognize his support for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act and going to bat for veterans.

5 Mar 2010

Women face VA obstacles in treatment for war disorders

Women are saying they face roadblocks to care when they seek treatment at Veterans Affairs hospitals, even as they return in record numbers from battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, ABC News reports.

4 Mar 2010

Prolonged use of HRT may increase risk of lung cancer

Women aged 50 to 76 who take estrogen plus progestin may have an increased risk of lung cancer, according to a new study published in the pre-print online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

4 Mar 2010

Novo Nordisk awarded contract by VA as primary source provider of insulin

Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company and leader in diabetes care, announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as the primary source provider of insulin. The one year contract began on March 1, 2010 and the VA has the option to renew the contract annually for up to an additional four years.

From Novo Nordisk 3 Mar 2010

Corneal transplant surgery: DSAEK leads to greater cell loss overall than PKP

One year post-surgery, patients who underwent Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) experienced greater cell loss overall compared to those who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), according to a new analysis of data collected from the Cornea Donor Study (CDS) Investigator Group's 2008 Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study (SMAS). However, the study, published in the March issue of Ophthalmology, showed that cell loss in DSAEK patients plateaued more quickly than in those who underwent PKP.

2 Mar 2010

VA announces two contracts to create polytrauma center that cares for severely injured Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a "polytrauma center" that cares for the most severely injured Veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center.

27 Feb 2010

Chronic stroke impairment: Intensive, repetitive rehabilitation exercises may benefit arms, legs and cognitive function

High-intensity, repetitive rehabilitation exercises can help stroke survivors significantly improve functioning in their paralyzed arm and in their quality of life — even years after their disabling event, according to late-breaking science results presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.

27 Feb 2010

The VA will reexamine Gulf War Illness Cases; House probes impact of burn pits

The Veterans Affairs Administration is planning to take another look at Gulf War Illness Cases, while the House probes the impact of burn pits.

26 Feb 2010

Study: Ongoing debate on how to pay for health care

Whether an individual is treated for a hip fracture at a hospital reimbursed by Medicare or is treated at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center makes a significant difference in what happens to the patient after release from the medical facility, according to a large study which may contribute to the ongoing debate on how to pay for health care.

26 Feb 2010

Exergames improve mood and mental health-related quality of life in seniors with SSD

Research at the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests a novel route to improving the symptoms of subsyndromal depression (SSD) in seniors through the regular use of "exergames" - entertaining video games that combine game play with exercise. In a pilot study, the researchers found that use of exergames significantly improved mood and mental health-related quality of life in older adults with SSD.

26 Feb 2010

Asymptomatic pancreatic cyst treatment: UCLA-Veterans Affairs research team develops evaluation tool

As a result of improved imaging technology, pancreatic cysts are increasingly diagnosed in asymptomatic individuals who undergo scans for other reasons. And while most of these cysts follow a benign course, a small but significant number are either malignant at the time of diagnosis or have the potential to develop into pancreatic cancer during a patient's lifetime.

25 Feb 2010

FDA may set patient safety regulations for health IT

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund: "In the past two years, the agency has received reports of six patient deaths and several dozen injuries linked to malfunctions in the systems, Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in testimony prepared for a government hearing on Thursday. ... The FDA has been studying the issue for several years. Its latest concerns are surfacing as the government ramps up an ambitious plan to spend as much as $27 billion in stimulus money helping doctors and hospitals across the country purchase electronic medical records systems that rely on digital software rather than paper medical charts."

25 Feb 2010

Researchers develop evaluation tool to help guide asymptomatic pancreatic cyst treatment

25 Feb 2010

Lack of knowledge and awareness impeding efforts to control HBV and HCV

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) confirmed that 3.5 to 5.3 million people (1-2 % of the U.S. population) have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Despite efforts by federal, state and local government agencies to control and prevent these diseases, they remain a serious public health concern. The major factor impeding efforts to control HBV and HCV is lack of knowledge and awareness among health care providers, social service professionals, members of the public, and policy-makers.

24 Feb 2010

Special issue of NeuroRehabilitation journal devoted to HI-BI published

IOS Press announces publication of a special issue of NeuroRehabilitation: An International Journal devoted specifically to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HI-BI), a significant disruption of brain function due to a deficient supply of oxygen to the brain.

24 Feb 2010

Study says lower-cost hospitals don't have lower quality care for certain illnesses

A study Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine found little difference in outcomes between hospitals with longer patient stays and shorter ones, which could make it "possible to lower costs in the U.S. system without hurting patients," Reuters reports.

24 Feb 2010

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

The costs that hospitals incur in treating patients vary widely and do not appear to be strongly associated either with the quality of care patients receive or their risk of dying within 30 days, according to a report in the February 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

23 Feb 2010

DSAEK cornea transplant offers potential long-term benefits

One year post-surgery, patients who underwent Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty experienced greater cell loss overall compared to those who underwent penetrating keratoplasty, according to a new analysis of data collected from the Cornea Donor Study Investigator Group's 2008 Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study.

23 Feb 2010

Veterans Affairs News and Research

Joint Hearing of Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs: MOPH National Commander testifies

Paralyzed Veterans: Much more needs to be done for America's veterans with disabilities

Veterans Health Care Budget Reform: DAV honors Obama for support

Women face VA obstacles in treatment for war disorders

Prolonged use of HRT may increase risk of lung cancer

Novo Nordisk awarded contract by VA as primary source provider of insulin

Corneal transplant surgery: DSAEK leads to greater cell loss overall than PKP

VA announces two contracts to create polytrauma center that cares for severely injured Veterans

Chronic stroke impairment: Intensive, repetitive rehabilitation exercises may benefit arms, legs and cognitive function

The VA will reexamine Gulf War Illness Cases; House probes impact of burn pits

Study: Ongoing debate on how to pay for health care

Exergames improve mood and mental health-related quality of life in seniors with SSD

Asymptomatic pancreatic cyst treatment: UCLA-Veterans Affairs research team develops evaluation tool

FDA may set patient safety regulations for health IT

Researchers develop evaluation tool to help guide asymptomatic pancreatic cyst treatment

Lack of knowledge and awareness impeding efforts to control HBV and HCV

Special issue of NeuroRehabilitation journal devoted to HI-BI published

Study says lower-cost hospitals don't have lower quality care for certain illnesses

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

DSAEK cornea transplant offers potential long-term benefits

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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