Upstate Area Health Education Center (AHEC) has joined with the American Hospital Association and more than a dozen other organizations in a nationwide effort to educate key individuals and community groups about the unique medical, social and emotional challenges facing returning veterans and their families. The Joining Forces project was originally developed by the Minnesota-based HealthPartners Institute for Medical Education after researchers learned that, although vitally important, reaching the non-military medical community about the special healthcare needs of veterans was proving to be a challenge. “What began as an effort to educate health caregivers in one community in Minnesota about the special needs of returning veterans and their families has grown into a collaboration among national organizations involving hospitals, doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy, and many others all across the nation,” said Rich Umbedenstock, President and Chief Executive Officer, the American Hospital Association.
The special needs of our returning veterans are significant. According to a recent RAND Corporation study, upward of 26 percent of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan may have mental health conditions sufficient to warrant treatment, but the majority will not receive that treatment. For while the military healthcare system is well prepared to diagnose and treat combat related problems, many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, especially members of the National Guard and Reserves, seek care from their regular primary care physician who may not even be aware their patient is a returning military member. That context is important in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of returning veterans, particularly since the most common injuries can be somewhat invisible, including behavioral health issues and mild traumatic brain injury.
Returning veterans also look for support from clergy, counselors, family members, and others in the wider community who may have even less familiarity with issues such as depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
“Joining Forces creates a platform upon which we are building a comprehensive program to inform and engage our upstate community,” said Candace Luciano, Director of Upstate AHEC. “Together we can ensure our troops find the support and resources they need when they return home from deployment, no matter where they live.” Specifically, Upstate AHEC will be promoting and providing educational outreach, web-based training, and regional provider workshops designed for those who are responding to the health care needs of our returning military. Resource materials will be developed and distributed to health professionals and the lay community.
Online Training Resources:
1) The Joining Forces series consists of four 30-minute broadcasts originally intended for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals; however, anyone with an interest in learning about the health issues our returning military face can view the series, at no charge, by visiting www.joiningforcesonline.org. NOTE: These programs also can be used to meet continuing education credits for health care professionals (CMEs and CEUs). Program topics include:
- Home Again recounts the experience of being deployed overseas, returning home and the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life.
- On the Mend offers an overview of the health related issues faced by a soldier and his family.
- Grey Matters explores the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury.
Breaking Point focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a product of the Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC), offers a variety of resources to clinicians, veterans, family and friends. Clinician support materials include clinical training modules on the DoD.VA Post-Deployment Health Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Quick Facts
It is estimated that, of the 1.64 million service members deployed for OEF/OIF as of October, 2007, approximately 300,000 currently suffer from PTSD or major depression and that 320,000 experienced probably traumatic brain injury during deployment. (from: Tanielian, Terri L and Lisa H. Jaycox, “Invisible Wounds of War: psychological and cognitive injuries, their consequences, and services to assist recovery,” Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2008)
The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by nearly 20,000 — almost 70% — in the 12 months ending June 30, 2007, and that number increased by an additional 50% in the next nine months. ( from: “Post-traumatic stress is a war within for military and civilians,” USA Today, Oct. 26, 2008, http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-26-PTSD.)
The long-term health implications of PTSD are just beginning to be identified. For example, according to a new study by psychologist Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH of the Gesinger Health System in Danville, Pa, Vietnam veterans with PTSD, but no heart disease when they were in their mid-30s, are twice as likely as veterans without PTSD to die of heart disease by their 50s. Dr. Boscarino equated PTSD to smoking two to three packs of cigarettes per day for more than 20 years. (from: “Geisinger study: PTSD causes early death from heart disease,” Bio-Medicine, July 7, 2008, http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Geisinger-study-3A-PTSD-causes-early-death.)
According to a study released 3/12/07, young veterans (age: 18-24 years) serving in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) are at greater risk for post traumatic stress disorder than older veterans 40 years and over. (from: K.H. Seal, et al, “Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103,788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities,” Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 167, No. 5, March 12, 2007: 476-482.)
