Antibiotic errors are killing some pneumonia patients: mortality is threefold higher in these cases. (Community-Acquired Pneumonia).
ATLANTA - Poor antibiotic choices are killing patients with community-acquired pneumonia. In an analysis that controlled for severity of illness, the death rate was threefold higher if pneumonia patients were treated with a regimen that fell outside of clinical practice guidelines from the American Thoracic Society and...

PTSD prevalence in some female veterans at 22%.
Female veterans seeking their medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs are at significantly elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, associated psychiatric and health problems, and functional impairment, Dr. Dorcas J. Dobie and her associates reported. The number of women in the military is growing. Females...

Sexual trauma tied to PTSD in female veterans.
Albuquerque -- Sexual trauma is the primary cause of posttraumatic stress disorder in female veterans, according to a psychologist who provides care at a trauma clinic for female veterans in New Mexico. Diane T. Castillo, Ph.D., estimates that 80%-90% of female veterans who walk into the Women's...

Colorectal cancer migration. (Clinical Capsules).
Two separate national registries have confirmed the continued increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer on the right side of the colon, reported Dr. Claudia Cucino and her associates in the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Albuquerque. Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Patient...

Colorectal cancer migration. (Clinical Capsules).
Two national registries have confirmed the continued increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer on the right side of the colon, reported Dr. Claudia Cucino and her associates in the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Albuquerque. In the Department of Veterans Affairs Patient Treatment File,...

For many female vets, PTSD tied to sex trauma.
ALBUQUERQUE -- Sexual trauma is the primary cause of posttraumatic stress disorder in female veterans, according to a psychologist who provides care at a trauma clinic for female veterans in New Mexico. Diane T. Castillo, Ph.D., estimates that 80%-90% of female veterans who walk into the Women's...

Vets' support has improved in recent years.
Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Jim Feldkamp For The Register-Guard Rep. Peter DeFazio's comments concerning veterans' affairs in his June 6 guest viewpoint deserve a response. I agree that a `one-day celebration does not fulfill our obligation to honor fallen soldiers and others who have sacrificed...

Process of care and outcome after acute myocardial infarction for patients with mental illness in the VA health care system: are there disparities?
Disparities in health care use and outcome are receiving increasing attention. Of particular concern are findings of lower rates of health care utilization among certain vulnerable groups, such as minorities (Wenneker and Epstein 1989; Hannan et al. 1991; Ayanian et al. 1993; Whittle et al. 1993; Peterson et al....

VA data reinforce need for treatment of sexual trauma: study results back mandatory screening.
BALTIMORE -- A preliminary study of nearly 600,000 electronic medical records validates reports in the literature showing that about 20% of female and 1% of male Veterans Affairs patients have reported military sexual trauma. "Because there are so many more males than females in the VA health...

President Provides Wartime VA Budget Recommendation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Legion National Commander Paul A. Morin today said he is encouraged by President Bush's Fiscal Year 2008 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The $87 billion proposal includes increased funding for key programs such as mental health care and the construction...