blogs.va.gov Open in urlscan Pro
2600:8000:0:28::28:189  Public Scan

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM

GET https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/

<form role="search" class="searchform fusion-search-form  fusion-search-form-clean" method="get" action="https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/">
  <div class="fusion-search-form-content">
    <div class="fusion-search-field search-field">
      <label><span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span>
        <input type="search" value="" name="s" class="s" placeholder="Search..." required="" aria-required="true" aria-label="Search...">
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="fusion-search-button search-button">
      <input type="submit" class="fusion-search-submit searchsubmit" aria-label="Search" value="">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

GET https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/

<form role="search" class="searchform fusion-search-form  fusion-search-form-clean" method="get" action="https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/">
  <div class="fusion-search-form-content">
    <div class="fusion-search-field search-field">
      <label><span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span>
        <input type="search" value="" name="s" class="s" placeholder="Search..." required="" aria-required="true" aria-label="Search...">
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="fusion-search-button search-button">
      <input type="submit" class="fusion-search-submit searchsubmit" aria-label="Search" value="">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

POST https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/wp-comments-post.php

<form action="https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="comment-form">
  <div id="comment-textarea"><label class="screen-reader-text" for="comment">Comment</label><textarea name="comment" id="comment" cols="45" rows="8" aria-required="true" required="required" class="textarea-comment" placeholder="Comment..."
      style="max-width: 1472px;"></textarea></div>
  <div id="comment-input"><input id="author" name="author" type="text" value="" placeholder="Name (required)" size="30" aria-required="true" required="required" aria-label="Name (required)">
    <input id="email" name="email" type="email" value="" placeholder="Email (required)" size="30" aria-required="true" required="required" aria-label="Email (required)">
    <input id="url" name="url" type="url" value="" placeholder="Website" size="30" aria-label="URL">
  </div>
  <p class="comment-form-cookies-consent"><input id="wp-comment-cookies-consent" name="wp-comment-cookies-consent" type="checkbox" value="yes"><label for="wp-comment-cookies-consent">Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time
      I comment.</label></p>
  <p class="cptch_block">Solve : <span style="color:red">*</span> <br>25 − 4 = <input id="cptch_input" class="cptch_input" type="text" autocomplete="off" name="ux_txt_captcha_input" value="" maxlength="5" size="2" aria-required="true"
      onkeypress="validate_digits_frontend_captcha_bank(event);" style="margin-bottom:0;display:inline;font-size: 12px;width: 40px;"><input type="hidden" name="captcha_bank_result" value="PiYk">
    <input type="hidden" name="captcha_bank_time" value="1654823094">
    <input type="hidden" value="Version: ">
  </p><br>
  <p class="form-submit"><input name="submit" type="submit" id="comment-submit" class="fusion-button fusion-button-default fusion-button-default-size" value="Post Comment"> <input type="hidden" name="comment_post_ID" value="104095"
      id="comment_post_ID">
    <input type="hidden" name="comment_parent" id="comment_parent" value="0">
  </p>
</form>

Text Content

Skip to Content
Skip to content

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Here’s how you know
Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United
States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

VAntage Point

Search for:


Menu
 * News
   * Top Stories
   * Latest News
   * Benefits News
   * Health News
   * Secretary’s Blog
   * America 250
   * Date Archives
 * Resources
   * VetResources
   * VA Careers
   * VA/Linkedin Partnerships
   * Social Media Policy
   * How to submit a guest post
   * My HealtheVetThis will take you to the MyHealtheVet website
   * Suicide PreventionThis will take you to the Suicide Prevention website
   * VA FormsThis will take you to the VA Find a Form page
 * VA Podcast Network
 * Press Releases
 * Search for:
   
   




INNOVATION REVOLUTIONARY: BETA LACTAM ASSESSMENTS SAVING LIVES

News Sections: Health

Published On: June 3rd, 2022|531 words|1.8 min read|

Kalyn Essex is a Communications Officer at the VHA Innovation Ecosystem. She is
an OEF Air Force Veteran.

Beta lactam (BL) antibiotics, more commonly known as penicillin antibiotics,
have long been the drugs of choice for most infections. However, roughly 10% of
patients report a BL allergy – 90% of which do not demonstrate true allergies to
all BLs. This often leads to the unnecessary use of broad-spectrum treatments.

Amanda Gillion and Jessica Bennett, clinical pharmacy practitioners at the
Memphis VA, noticed this trend and kick-started the Beta Lactam Allergy
Assessment. This assessment is meant to determine whether Veterans are receiving
the best possible care when it comes to BL allergies.

MORE EFFECTIVE CARE

Gillion, drawn to VA for its reputation as a teaching institution, has been with
Memphis VA for eight years. She began noticing that some Veterans’ health
records tagged a BL allergy but that she knew that those Veterans could be
receiving more effective care while reducing the risks of broad-spectrum
antibiotic use.

“There can be major negative outcomes when you don’t use the right antibiotic,”
says Gillion. “A broad spectrum can encourage resistance, making the infection
harder to treat.” There are also cost considerations. Penicillin is generally
less expensive than other BLs. “That money could be better used to care for
Veterans by bringing new improvements or technologies to existing programs.”

THE NEW ASSESSMENT

In 2016, Gillion and her team began using the beta lactam allergy template to
identify patients suitable for the penicillin skin test clinic. Through this
skin testing, patients can potentially be cleared of their penicillin allergy
and have their medical records updated. Of the 40 Veterans seen in the clinic,
only four have been told to maintain penicillin avoidance.

Since then, Gillion and her team have journeyed through the VHA Innovation
Ecosystem to grow and share their new BL Allergy Assessment solution.

They were first awarded a VHA Innovators Network (iNET) Spark-Seed-Spread
Investment in FY2020 to spread the project to Central Arkansas VA. In FY2021,
the team participated in the VHA Shark Tank Competition, where the practice was
adopted and implemented by Washington D.C. VAMC.

Shark Tank also supported Gillion’s team in presenting the assessment to the
Clinical Pharmacy Practice Office (CPPO), with whom they are planning a
larger-scale pilot test within the next few months.

A Veteran seen in the clinic had anxiety about his BL allergy, due to severe
reaction from immunizations in the military 40 years ago. “He ended up being
cleared of the allergy and was so relieved and thankful to have that stress
removed,” Gillion said. “Seeing the smile on his face, not having to carry that
BL tag anymore, everyone felt good about that.”

FURTHERING INNOVATION

“This experience has shown what a small group of people with an idea can do, and
what VA will do to support that idea,” said Gillion, reflecting on the process
so far. For VA employees looking to innovate, she encourages them to get
involved with VHA IE. “Getting plugged into iNET and seeing how many people
across VA have these ideas, that they see something they want to fix, was
inspiring.”

WANT TO GET STARTED ON YOUR INNOVATION JOURNEY?

Want to support VHA IE’s innovation revolution? Visit our website to learn about
more opportunities and get involved in innovation at VA.

Previous
VA takes bold steps to improve support for caregivers
Next
Navy Veteran donates flag stand in son’s memory


Keywords: Allergy antibiotics Diffusion of Excellence' infections Innovation
Ecosystem Innovation Revolutionary Penicillin Shark Tank

SHARE THIS STORY, CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM!





LEAVE A COMMENT CANCEL REPLY

Comment


Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Solve : *
25 − 4 =








YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THESE ARTICLES

 * VA experts collaborate for Veteran health care innovation
   
   VA EXPERTS COLLABORATE FOR VETERAN HEALTH CARE INNOVATION
   
   June 9th, 2022|0 Comments
 * VA homeless programs enable bright future for Army Veteran Ronald Scott
   
   VA HOMELESS PROGRAMS ENABLE BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ARMY VETERAN RONALD SCOTT
   
   June 9th, 2022|0 Comments
 * Biloxi VA Chief of Police runs to honor fallen officer
   
   BILOXI VA CHIEF OF POLICE RUNS TO HONOR FALLEN OFFICER
   
   June 8th, 2022|0 Comments
 * North Texas VA nurse’s innovation helps prevent pneumonia
   
   NORTH TEXAS VA NURSE’S INNOVATION HELPS PREVENT PNEUMONIA
   
   June 8th, 2022|1 Comment
 * Army Veteran with MS finds joy in life
   
   ARMY VETERAN WITH MS FINDS JOY IN LIFE
   
   June 7th, 2022|0 Comments
 * PTSD Bytes #11: PTSD resources for family members
   
   PTSD BYTES #11: PTSD RESOURCES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
   
   June 7th, 2022|0 Comments



U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20420
1-800-698-2411

VAntage Point

An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs


 * ChooseVA
 * About VA
 * Accessibility support
 * No FEAR Act data
 * Whistleblower Protection
 * Office of the Inspector General
 * Performance reports
 * Privacy policy
 * FOIA requests
 * Disclaimers
 * Open Data
 * Vulnerability Disclosure Policy



Looking for U.S. government information and services?  Visit USA.gov





Page load link

Go to Top


WE’RE HERE ANYTIME, DAY OR NIGHT - 24/7

If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring,
qualified responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans
themselves.

 * Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
 * Text to 838255
 * Chat confidentially now
 * Call TTY if you have hearing loss 1-800-799-4889

Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net.