Article
Immunology
Jen-Chieh Lee, Yuan -Pin Hung, Bo -Yang Tsai, Pei -Jane Tsai, Wen -Chien Ko
Summary: Severe CDIs in the ICU were not rare in this study. The ileus group tended to have more severe presentation, with severe and fulminant CDIs accounting for 65.2% and an ICU mortality rate of 39.1%. Clinicians should be aware of abdominal symptoms and signs other than diarrhea, such as ileus, for timely diagnosis and management of CDI.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jessica Luo, Sujee Jeyapalina, Gregory J. Stoddard, Alvin C. Kwok, Jayant P. Agarwal
Summary: This analysis examines the demographics, infection, mortality, and case-fatality rates of COVID-19 patients in the veteran population from March 4th to June 23rd, 2020. The findings indicate that elderly veterans (>= 65yo) and veterans with a history of cardiovascular disease are significantly impacted, with black veterans showing higher mortality rates but lower case fatality rates compared to white veterans.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers, Laurel A. Copeland, Michelle A. Mengeling, Kristin M. Mattocks
Summary: By analyzing the infertility diagnoses and treatments among Veterans using the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare system from 2018 to 2020, it was found that the infertility rate was lower in male Veterans and higher in female Veterans compared to a recent study of active duty servicemembers. Further research is needed to investigate military exposures and circumstances that may lead to infertility. Enhancing communications between the Department of Defense and VHA systems is essential to help more men and women benefit from infertility care during military service or as Veterans.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kara Zivin, Tony Van, Katerine Osatuke, Matt Boden, Paul N. Pfeiffer, Rebecca K. Sripada, Kristen M. Abraham, Jennifer Burgess, Hyungjin Myra Kim
Summary: While many studies have examined the predictors of provider burnout, there is limited evidence on the impact of burnout on patient outcomes, especially among behavioral health providers. This study aimed to assess the impact of burnout among psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers on access-related quality measures in the Veterans Health Administration.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Linda Baier Manwell, Melissa McNeil, Megan R. Gerber, Samina Iqbal, Sarina Schrager, Catherine Staropoli, Roger Brown, Laure Veet, Sally Haskell, Patricia Hayes, Molly Carnes
Summary: The training program successfully improved primary care providers' comfort in providing care for women Veterans, empowering them to implement institutional changes and enhance their provision of care to women.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Timothy W. Farrell, Tiffany A. Volden, Jorie M. Butler, G. Paul Eleazer, Randall W. Rupper, Katharina Echt, Marianne Shaughnessy, Mark A. Supiano
Summary: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been committed to providing age-friendly care and has implemented innovative projects such as the establishment of Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs) to meet the needs of aging veterans. VHA not only provides care but also promotes coordination across the continuum of care and contributes to the development of the essential workforce for age-friendly care. Policymakers and non-VHA healthcare systems should look to VHA programs as examples for the development and implementation of age-friendly care.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maya Aboumrad, Brian Shiner, Natalie Riblet, Hugh Huizenga, Nabin Neupane, Yinong Young-Xu
Summary: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the United States Veterans Health Administration, the number of hospitalizations increased over time while the mortality rate consistently declined. Patients hospitalized in different months showed differences in age, race, symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory findings, and treatment modalities.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Karen H. Wang, Gail McAvay, Allison Warren, Mary L. Miller, Anthony Pho, John R. Blosnich, Cynthia A. Brandt, Joseph L. Goulet
Summary: The study found that transgender veterans are more likely to be younger, white, homeless, and have depression, PTSD, and hepatitis C. Compared to nontransgender veterans, they exhibit higher healthcare mobility and are more likely to travel out of state for healthcare services.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Simona Sipos, Cristian Vlad, Radu Prejbeanu, Horia Haragus, Daliborca Vlad, Horia Cristian, Cristian Dumitrascu, Roxana Popescu, Victor Dumitrascu, Vlad Predescu
Summary: The study found that the implementation of COVID-19 prevention measures led to a decrease in C. difficile infections in hospitals, despite an increase in antibiotic use. The number of cases decreased during lockdown but the difference was not statistically significant, and post-lockdown, the cases were comparable to previous years.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kertu Tenso, Kiersten L. Strombotne, Yevgeniy Feyman, Samantha G. Auty, Aaron Legler, Kevin N. Griffith
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in excess mortality in the US population and at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Understanding the characteristics of facilities with the highest and lowest pandemic-related mortality is crucial for future mitigation efforts.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Paul Feuerstadt, Winnie W. Nelson, Edward M. Drozd, Jill Dreyfus, David N. Dahdal, Anny C. Wong, Iman Mohammadi, Christie Teigland, Alpesh Amin
Summary: This study analyzed the mortality, cost, and healthcare resource utilization for Medicare beneficiaries aged >= 65 years with a primary Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) or recurrent CDI. The results showed that recurrent CDI had almost 10 times higher CDI-associated mortality rate compared to primary CDI. Decedents had higher hospitalization rates, longer length of stay, and higher total costs compared to survivors. This highlights the importance of prevention, identification, and appropriate treatment of CDI in older adults to reduce mortality and economic burden.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Conor Walsh, Caitlin Sullivan, Hayden B. Bosworth, Sarah Wilson, Jennifer M. Gierisch, Kaitlyn B. Goodwin, Felicia Mccant, Helen Hoenig, Leonie Heyworth, Donna M. Zulman, Carolyn Turvey, Ernest Moy, Allison A. Lewinski
Summary: The Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in the use of virtual care, but there are inequities in access and utilization between audio-only and video-based virtual care. This study identified priorities for achieving equitable implementation of virtual care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through a Think Tank involving clinicians, researchers, and operational partners.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vishala Parmasad, Julie Keating, Linda Mckinley, Charlesnika Evans, Michael Rubin, Corrine Voils, Nasia Safdar
Summary: This study explored the barriers and facilitators to the sustained implementation of the VA CDI Bundle for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI). The findings revealed that leadership support, mandatory training, and readily available resources were facilitators, while communication limitations, ambiguous information, and role hierarchies were identified as barriers. Recommendations include improving the clarity and standardization of CDI prevention policies and providing regular training updates for clinical stakeholders.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Denise M. Hynes, Samuel Edwards, Alex Hickok, Meike Niederhausen, Frances M. Weaver, Elizabeth Tarlov, Howard Gordon, Reside L. Jacob, Brian Bartle, Allison O'Neill, Rebecca Young, Avery Laliberte
Summary: The study found that a majority of Veterans utilized VA primary care services at VA facilities, but the proportion of visits to VA-CCN providers increased annually. Factors such as being female, living in rural areas, having a long driving distance, having health insurance, or having psychiatric/depression conditions were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving primary care from VA-CCN providers. Conversely, older age, Black race, requirement to pay VA copayments, or higher Nosos score were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving primary care from VA-CCN providers.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Charlie M. Wray, Jacqueline M. Ferguson, Liberty Greene, Ashley Griffin, James Van Campen, Amy M. J. O'Shea, Cindie Slightam, Donna M. Zulman
Summary: Despite the availability of video-enabled tablets, barriers to engaging in virtual care persist among veterans. Targeted interventions are needed to facilitate adoption and engagement in video visits.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)