Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening via Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Veterans Affairs Health System.

Background: Colorectal cancer screening rates at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fecal immunochemical testing is recognized as a tier 1 preferred screening method by the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. The VACHS implemented a program that mailed fecal immunochemical testing kits to patients to improve colorectal cancer screening rates.

A detox dilemma beyond benzodiazepines; clonidine's quandary in alcohol withdrawal management.

Background And Objectives: Benzodiazepines are the primary method of treatment of alcohol withdrawal, though the American Society of Addiction Medicine guidelines also include alternative agents for consideration. Observations in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric emergency room noted consistent benzodiazepine use with an overall lack of use of alternative agents, even with low Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) scores and in the absence of other concerning symptoms. Due to concerns of potential more-than-necessary benzodiazepine use, we analyzed adjunctive clonidine use for elevated blood pressure/pulse in alcohol withdrawal among this Veteran population.

Sleep-wake disorders in veterans with opioid use disorder: Prevalence and comorbidities.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sleep-wake disorders among veterans with opioid use disorder (OUD) and the demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and outpatient medications in this group.

Methods: US veterans seeking care in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021 with a diagnosis of OUD (N = 5937) were analyzed retrospectively for sleep-wake disorders (N = 1447). That group was analyzed for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and medications.