Discharge Disposition in Veterans with Heart Failure: Impact of Dementia and Severe Mental Illness.

Objectives: Post-acute heart failure (HF) care presents significant management challenges, particularly among veterans with cognitive and behavioral impairments due to Alzheimer disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) or severe mental illness (SMI). We hypothesized that comorbid AD/ADRD and SMI would reduce the likelihood of discharge home following HF hospitalization. In addition, we explored how AD/ADRD and SMI influence discharge to Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) compared with Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).

Construct validation of a complete postpartum health and well-being patient reported outcome measure: prospective cohort study.

Background: Despite a focus on patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in maternity care, a standardized tool is lacking. Current existing measures often focus on a single dimension of postpartum health.

Objective: This study evaluated the construct validity of using a suite of PROMs based on the top psychometrically validated tools available.

All-Ireland evaluation of ultrasound systems for prostate brachytherapy: Application specific quality control protocol and quality assurance phantoms.

Context: The goal of quality assurance (QA) for transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate brachytherapy is to ensure optimum patient outcomes by providing a high-quality service using equipment that is operating at optimum performance levels. There are specific recommendations from professional organisations that outline the QA parameters that need to be considered specifically for ultrasound guided prostate brachytherapy. However, these recommendations are heavily based on the guidance made for the general application of ultrasound to all relevant clinical applications.

"One Size Doesn't Fit All": Design Considerations for an Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function in Older Veterans with Serious Mental Illness.

Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) (i.e., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder) have compromised physical function that adversely affects their quality of life.