Veterans' hospitals compare pretty favorably with others when it comes to treating older men with three common conditions -- heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. That's according to a study on death rates and re-admissions.
The research found that chances for dying or being readmitted within 30 days of treatment for those conditions varied only slightly for patients hospitalized within the VA system versus at outside hospitals. It's based on 2010-2013 data.
The researchers say the results should be reassuring but that there's still room for improvement at hospitals in both systems.
Dr. David Shulkin is the VA's undersecretary for health. He says the results debunk the impression that the VA has fallen behind.
The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
