New PubMed Articles 30 April 2010

1.

A model of resilience and meaning after military deployment: personal resources in making sense of war and peacekeeping experiences.

Schok ML, Kleber RJ, Lensvelt-Mulders GJ.

Aging Ment Health. 2010 Apr;14(3):328-38.PMID: 20425652 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

2.

Leaving Against Medical Advice (AMA): Risk of 30-Day Mortality and Hospital Readmission.

Glasgow JM, Vaughn-Sarrazin M, Kaboli PJ.

J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20425146 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

3.

Trends and geographic variation of potentially avoidable hospitalizations in the veterans health-care system.

Finegan MS, Gao J, Pasquale D, Campbell J.

Health Serv Manage Res. 2010 May;23(2):66-75.PMID: 20424274 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

4.

Value of hemoglobin A1c in diagnosing diabetes mellitus within a chronic disease management system illustrated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Eid WE, Potalla JV.

Endocr Pract. 2010 Jan-Feb;16(1):14-20.PMID: 19703812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Walter Reed Medical Center Reports Fast-Acting Effective Treatment for PTSD

Walter Reed Report Confirms Validity of Fast-Acting, Non-Drug PTSD Treatment 04/30/2010.  Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, has published case reports detailing the successful treatment of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder with a stellate ganglion block. Newswise

New PubMed Articles 29 April 2010

1.

Implementation of Health Information Technology in Veterans Health Administration to Support Transformational Change: Telehealth and Personal Health Records.

Chumbler NR, Haggstrom DA, Saleem J.

Med Care. 2010 Apr 23. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20421829 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

2.

Improving surgical site infections: using national surgical quality improvement program data to institute surgical care improvement project protocols in improving surgical outcomes.

Berenguer CM, Ochsner MG Jr, Lord SA, Senkowski CK.

J Am Coll Surg. 2010 May;210(5):737-41, 741-3.PMID: 20421041 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

3.

Long-term follow-up of technical outcomes for incisional hernia repair.

Hawn MT, Snyder CW, Graham LA, Gray SH, Finan KR, Vick CC.

J Am Coll Surg. 2010 May;210(5):648-55, 655-7.PMID: 20421023 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

4.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduces systolic blood pressure in hypertensive adults: A pilot feasibility study.

Judd SE, Raiser SN, Kumari M, Tangpricha V.

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2010 Apr 23. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20420907 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

5.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Veterans Affairs Hospitals: Haven't We Seen This Before?

Soo Hoo GW.

Respir Care. 2010 May;55(5):643-5. No abstract available. PMID: 20420739 [PubMed - in process]Free ArticleRelated citations

6.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tobacco use in veterans at boise veterans affairs medical center.

Thompson WH, St-Hilaire S.

Respir Care. 2010 May;55(5):555-60.PMID: 20420725 [PubMed - in process]Free ArticleRelated citations

7.

Perceived racial discrimination in health care and its association with patients' healthcare experiences: does the measure matter?

Hausmann LR, Kressin NR, Hanusa BH, Ibrahim SA.

Ethn Dis. 2010 Winter;20(1):40-7.PMID: 20178181 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

8.

Assessment of a hepatitis educational group for veterans with substance use disorders.

Hagedorn H, Leighton T, Heim L.

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010 Jan;36(1):57-60.PMID: 20141398 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

9.

Differential impact of NSAIDs on rate of adverse events that require hospitalization in high-risk and general veteran populations: a retrospective cohort study.

Pratt N, Roughead EE, Ryan P, Gilbert AL.

Drugs Aging. 2010;27(1):63-71. doi: 10.2165/11531250-000000000-00000.PMID: 20030433 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

10.

Parental combat injury and early child development: a conceptual model for differentiating effects of visible and invisible injuries.

Gorman LA, Fitzgerald HE, Blow AJ.

Psychiatr Q. 2010 Mar;81(1):1-21. Review.PMID: 19941074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Upper GI tract findings in patients with heartburn in whom proton pump inhibitor treatment failed versus those not receiving antireflux treatment.

Poh CH, Gasiorowska A, Navarro-Rodriguez T, Willis MR, Hargadon D, Noelck N, Mohler J, Wendel CS, Fass R.

Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Jan;71(1):28-34.PMID: 19922918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

12.

Assessing overall duration of cardiovascular medicines in veterans with established cardiovascular disease.

Roughead EE, Vitry AI, Preiss AK, Barratt JD, Gilbert AL, Ryan P.

Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2010 Feb;17(1):71-6.PMID: 19587601 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

New Issue of "VA Research Currents"

VA Research Currents May, 2010 04/29/2010. In this issue: In robotics study, gains seen even years after stroke; VA space experiment among last to fly on Discovery shuttle; 'Dr. Brain Dude'; Study finds some evidence of ALS link to head injury; Protein test may help predict breast cancer spread; Nurse practitioners rate high among VA patients; 'Orphan' cancer drug may have more uses;Study supports use of advance directives;Chiropractic pain treatments for OEF/OIF Veteran.  VA Research & Development

A Special 68-page Magazine: "VA Research Today"

VA Research Today 04/29/2010. The magazine contains background on the program and feature articles that illustrate the spirit of discovery, innovation, and advancement that has characterized VA Research since its earliest days. VA Research & Development

Two New VAOIG Reports

Healthcare Inspection Evaluation of Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Clinics in Veterans Health Administration Facilities Report Number 07-03165-139, 4/28/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Healthcare Inspection Alleged Quality of Care Issues in the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas, Texas Report Number 09-03610-141, 4/29/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Personal Health Records Help Guard Privacy and Confidentiality

VA official says patient-controlled health records guard privacy better 04/29/2010. Widespread use of personal health records, which individuals control, could help ensure privacy and confidentiality of medical data, a top official at the Veterans Affairs Department said on Wednesday.

Paul Tibbits, VA's deputy chief information officer for strategy, architecture and design, said health care providers should consider personal health records, which patients have access to and control, as the cornerstone of a national medical record system, as opposed to electronic health records, which clinicians manage. Nextgov

In-Home Monitors Save Money

VA cuts health care spending with in-home monitoring systems 04/29/2010.  The Veterans Affairs Department has used in-home monitoring and teleconferencing systems to cut hospital admissions by 19 percent and save tens of thousands of dollars in patient care, results that have implications for lowering U.S. health care spending if a national broadband network can be established, a top official at the Federal Communications Commission told a Senate hearing. NextGov

Fedspace: The Federal Facebook

Government to launch ‘Fedspace,' a social media site for feds 04/29/2010. The government this fall plans to launch a new Facebook-like social networking program for federal employees. The site, called FedSpace, is intended to provide feds with more opportunities to communicate, collaborate and share information. FedSpace will allow feds to write blogs, create wikis and share files with one another. It will also have employee directories and a search feature. Federal Times

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Its Affect on Veterans

TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) 04/29/2010.  The 111th Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148; PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152; HCERA). In general, PPACA did not make any significant changes to the Department of Defense (DOD) TRICARE program or to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. However, many have sought clarification as to whether certain provisions in PPACA, such as a mandate for most individuals to have health insurance, or extending dependant coverage up to age 26, would apply to TRICARE and VA health care beneficiaries. CRS via FAS

New PubMed Articles 27 April 2010

1.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychiatric Diagnoses in Veterans Seeking Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment.

Olson-Madden JH, Brenner L, Harwood JE, Emrick CD, Corrigan JD, Thompson C.

J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2010 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20414130 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

2.

Inhaled corticosteroid use is associated with lower mortality for subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hospitalized with pneumonia.

Malo de Molina R, Mortensen EM, Restrepo MI, Copeland LA, Pugh MJ, Anzueto A.

Eur Respir J. 2010 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20413535 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

3.

Health care-associated and community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: A comparison of definitions.

McCarthy NL, Sullivan PS, Gaynes R, Rimland D.

Am J Infect Control. 2010 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20413185 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

4.

Effectiveness of imagery rehearsal therapy for the treatment of combat-related nightmares in veterans.

Nappi CM, Drummond SP, Thorp SR, McQuaid JR.

Behav Ther. 2010 Jun;41(2):237-44. Epub 2009 Dec 16.PMID: 20412888 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

5.

Cognitive efficiency is associated with endogenous cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hilsabeck RC, Anstead GM, Webb AL, Hoyumpa A, Ingmundson P, Holliday S, Zhang Q, Casas AM, Jovel M, Stern SL.

J Neuroimmunol. 2010 Apr 15;221(1-2):53-61. Epub 2010 Feb 24.PMID: 20181398 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

6.

The dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments. A review of current efforts.

McHugh RK, Barlow DH.

Am Psychol. 2010 Feb-Mar;65(2):73-84. Review.PMID: 20141263 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

7.

Generational differences in registered nurse turnover.

LeVasseur SA, Wang CY, Mathews B, Boland M.

Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2009 Aug;10(3):212-23. Epub 2009 Dec 20.PMID: 20026454 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Three New VA Twitters

VeteransHealth: Celebrate VA’s Research Week! Learn about our Nobel awarded researcher’s advancements in many medical treatments: http://ow.ly/1D5jh

VeteransHealth: Watch this news clip about how Veterans can access the several types of VA benefits: http://ow.ly/1Ddwj

VeteransHealth: A VA #research team is finding new ways for families to help severely wounded Vets: http://ow.ly/1EaIb #veteran

What Does This Poll Mean for MyHealtheVet

Poll: More people using government Web sites 04/27/2010.  More people in the U.S. are renewing licenses, applying for permits, and paying parking tickets online as Americans increasingly tap into government sites and services online. cnet News

NY Times Article Critical of Warrior Transition Units

Feeling Warehoused in Army Trauma Care Units 04/27/2010. A year ago, Specialist Michael Crawford wanted nothing more than to get into Fort Carson’s Warrior Transition Battalion, a special unit created to provide closely managed care for soldiers with physical wounds and severe psychological trauma (Warrior Transition Units). A strapping Army sniper who once brimmed with confidence, he had returned emotionally broken from Iraq, where he suffered two concussions from roadside bombs and watched several platoon mates burn to death. The transition unit at Fort Carson, outside Colorado Springs, seemed the surest way to keep suicidal thoughts at bay, his mother thought. NY Times

New Book: Once a Warrior ─ Always a Warrior: Navigating the Transition from Combat to Home

New Book: Once a Warrior ─ Always a Warrior 04/25/2010. Here, in easily accessible writing, Dr. Charles W. Hoge (COL retired) presents the latest knowledge about combat stress, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), mTBI (mild traumatic brain injury), and other physiological reactions to war. Readers learn about the range of self-help and treatment options – including their limitations – and how they can be modified or combined to suit the needs of the individual warrior or family member. Dr. Hoge’s compelling message about recognizing the value of combat survival skills will help anyone who wants to more fully understand the experience of service members and veterans.

See also: 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Soldiers Returning from Iraq (free full text)

Charles W. Hoge, M.D., Dennis McGurk, Ph.D., Jeffrey L. Thomas, Ph.D., Anthony L. Cox, M.S.W., Charles C. Engel, M.D., M.P.H., and Carl A. Castro, Ph.D. NEJM Volume 358:453-463 January 31, 2008 Number 5

2008 NBC News Interview with COL Hoge re: above article in NEJM

VA Commited to Suicide Prevention

VA Strives to Prevent Veteran Suicides 04/25/2010. With more than 6,000 veterans committing suicide every year –- and 98 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan taking their own lives during fiscal 2009 alone -- the Department of Veterans Affairs is redoubling its outreach to veterans and promoting its toll-free suicide-prevention hotline. DoD

USUHS Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress Discusses a New Program Called "Courage to Care Courage to Talk."

PODCAST: Courage to Care Courage to Talk 04/25/2010. Dr. Stephen Cozza, professor of psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, and associate director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, discusses a new program called "Courage to Care Courage to Talk." Learn more about this new, electronic health campaign at www.couragetotalk.org. Health.mil

Two New VAOIG Reports

Healthcare Inspection - Alleged Radiology and Cardiology Quality of Care Issues Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida. Report Number 10-00169-134, 4/22/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Central California Health Care System Fresno, California. Report Number 10-01081-135, 4/22/2010 | Summary | Report (PDF)

VA's Fiduciary Program Investigated by GAO

VA's Fiduciary Program: VA Plans to Improve Program Compliance and Policies, but Sustained Management Attention is Needed, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 04/25/2010.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays billions of dollars in compensation and pension benefits to disabled veterans and their dependents. For those beneficiaries who are unable to manage their own affairs, VA appoints a third party, called a fiduciary, to manage their VA funds. Congress, VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and GAO have noted that VA does not always have, or adhere to, effective policies for selecting and monitoring fiduciaries and therefore, does not fully safeguard the assets of beneficiaries in the Fiduciary Program. GAO

VA's IT Budget to be Trimmed

VA to Cure Healthy IT Budgets 04/25/2010. Despite having what is arguably the most successful, large-scale health IT program in the world, the Department of Veteran Affairs is under pressure to trim its budget for information technology programs. NextGov

New PubMed Articles 25 April 2010

1.

Association between obesity and diabetes mellitus in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Rajan S, McNeely MJ, Hammond M, Goldstein B, Weaver F.

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 May;89(5):353-61.PMID: 20407300 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

2.

Surgery and Adjuvant Chemotherapy Use Among Veterans With Colon Cancer: Insights From a California Study.

Hynes DM, Tarlov E, Durazo-Arvizu R, Perrin R, Zhang Q, Weichle T, Ferreira MR, Lee T, Benson AB, Bhoopalam N, Bennett CL.

J Clin Oncol. 2010 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406940 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

3.

Trends in health status and the use of services among the 80-84-year-old Finnish war veterans during 1992 and 2004.

Leskinen MR, Laatikainen TK, Tuomilehto JO, Nissinen MA, Peltonen M, Koistinen PO, Antikainen RL.

Scand J Public Health. 2010 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406795 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

4.

Association Between Blood Lead and the Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Fang F, Kwee LC, Allen KD, Umbach DM, Ye W, Watson M, Keller J, Oddone EZ, Sandler DP, Schmidt S, Kamel F.

Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406759 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

5.

Mental health and health service use among post-national service veterans: results from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of England.

Woodhead C, Rona RJ, Iversen A, Macmanus D, Hotopf M, Dean K, McManus S, Meltzer H, Brugha T, Jenkins R, Wessely S, Fear NT.

Psychol Med. 2010 Apr 21:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406527 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

6.

Trajectories of stress reactions and somatization symptoms among war veterans: a 20-year longitudinal study.

Ginzburg K, Solomon Z.

Psychol Med. 2010 Apr 21:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406521 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

7.

Who Receives Outpatient Monitoring During High-Risk Depression Treatment Periods?

Kales HC, Kim HM, Austin KL, Valenstein M.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Apr 14. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20406321 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]Related citations

8.

Inherent inaccuracies and potential utility of race/ethnicity labeling in the treatment of hypertension.

Materson BJ, Bernal EM.

J Am Soc Hypertens. 2009 Sep-Oct;3(5):291-4.PMID: 20409972 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

9.

Medical therapy for major depressive disorder in Latinos.

Podawiltz A, Culpepper L.

J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Apr;71(4):e08.PMID: 20409442 [PubMed - in process]Related citations

10.

Type 2 diabetes: assessing the relative risks and benefits of glucose-lowering medications.

Bergenstal RM, Bailey CJ, Kendall DM.

Am J Med. 2010 Apr;123(4):374.e 9 -18. Review.PMID: 20362759 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

11.

Health, wartime stress, and unit cohesion: evidence from Union Army veterans.

Costa DL, Kahn ME.

Demography. 2010 Feb;47(1):45-66.PMID: 20355683 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

12.

Antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infection and subsequent outpatient and hospital utilization in veterans with spinal cord injury and disorder.

Evans CT, Li K, Burns SP, Smith B, Lee TA, Weaver FM.

PM R. 2010 Feb;2(2):101-9. Epub 2010 Feb 1.PMID: 20117971 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

13.

Antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine in substance use disorder patients.

Hagedorn HJ, Rettmann NA, Dieperink EW, Durfee J, Aqel B.

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Feb 1;107(1):39-43. Epub 2009 Sep 27.PMID: 19786329 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Related citations

Two New VA Twitters

VeteransHealth: RT @VA_OEF_OIF: If you're an #OEF #OIF Veteran and have NOT been contacted about your healthcare benefits, please call us at: 1-866-606-8216

VeteransHealth: More than 550 #Veterans who have participated in VA Research studies are being celebrated as part of VA research week: http://ow.ly/1Cnwi

Memphis VA Offers Meditation to Help Veterans Cope With Injuries

Tackling Injuries with Meditation, Not Medication 04/25/2010.  Veteran Tanya Boldt struggled with service-connected injuries for years. She used to associate the VA with pain and nurses drawing blood. All that changed when she started attending all-women’s yoga therapy classes at the Memphis VA to treat her health problems. VA via FaceBook