Background: The Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System (VA-NWIHCS) uses teleoncology and remote systemic cancer therapy services to expand care to veterans in rural Nebraska via remote sites in Lincoln and Grand Island. This study compares clinical outcomes in patients receiving care at these remote sites to those at the primary site in Omaha.
Methods: Data were retrospectively reviewed for 151 patients who received first-line systemic therapy at VA sites in Omaha, Lincoln, or Grand Island between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020. This included patient demographics, malignancy type and stage, survival, systemic therapy received, treatment intent and toxicities, missed or delayed cycles, and frequency of hospitalizations or emergency department visits. SAS version 9.4 was used for analysis.
Results: The study population included 108 patients who received their systemic therapy in Omaha, whereas 43 received therapy at the remote sites. The demographic of both populations was predominantly male with a median age of 69 years and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 to 1. The two groups were comparable in terms of comorbidities. Both populations had a similar distribution of cancer types, proportion of patients with stage IV disease, and treatment with curative intent. There was no difference in 1- and 2-year survival, systemic therapy-related toxicity classification and prevalence, number of delayed/missed cycles, and hospitalization/emergency department visits.
Conclusion: Evaluated outcomes in patients treated in Omaha versus remote sites via teleoncology under the same providers were similar. Effective oncology care, including systemic therapy, can be provided via teleoncology, and this model can help mitigate issues with access to care.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.35616 | DOI Listing |
Antibiotics (Basel)
November 2024
Department of Biology and Animal Ecology, Research Institute for Tropical Ecology (IRET/CENAREST), Libreville BP 13354, Gabon.
Background/objectives: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant global public health threat that demands serious attention. The proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is primarily attributed to the overuse of antibiotics in humans, livestock, and the agro-industry. However, it is worth noting that antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) can be found in all ecosystems, even in environments where antibiotics have never been utilized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Gen Intern Med
January 2025
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
Background: Prior research has shown that primary care clinicians (PCPs) spend a large portion of clinic visits on tasks within the electronic health record (EHR). However, no time allocation studies have been done in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and little is known about EHR time spent during virtual visits.
Objective: To estimate the proportion of clinician time spent working within the EHR during primary care visits at VHA clinics.
Environ Monit Assess
January 2025
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa.
In recent decades, natural rangelands have emerged as vital sources of livelihood and ecological services, particularly in Southern Africa, supporting communities in developing regions. However, the escalating global demand for food, driven by a growing human population, has led to the extensive expansion of cultivated areas, resulting in continuous nutrient leaching in rangelands. To ensure the long-term viability of these ecosystems, there is a need to develop effective approaches for managing and monitoring the seasonality of forage quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGeomorphology (Amst)
December 2024
Retired: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
Reliable estimates of low flow and flood discharge at ungaged locations are required for evaluating stream flow alteration, designing culverts and stream crossings, and interpreting regional surveys of habitat and biotic condition. Very few stream gaging stations are located on small, remote streams, which typically have complex channel morphology. Adequate gaging is also lacking on larger streams that are remote, smaller than those typically gaged, or have channel morphology not conducive to installation of gages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Med Philipp
November 2024
Philippine Primary Care Studies, University of the Philippines Diliman.
Background: Evaluation of primary care allows for identification of problems in the healthcare system, such as poor health outcomes, inappropriate health services, overuse of unnecessary resources, or underuse of recommended strategies. Assessment of adherence to existing clinical practice guidelines as quality indicators is critical for evaluating the effectiveness of primary care and shaping healthcare policies.
Objectives: To determine the adherence of primary care providers to existing practice guidelines for common pediatric concerns in remote, rural, and urban areas in the Philippines.
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