Q&A (Post-Deployment Service Member Healthcare)
Service members and Veterans are often faced with challenging, stressful, and demanding situations during the post-deployment phase. Many questions about post-deployment healthcare delivery and services may come up. The following questions and answers are provided as part of the Sergeant Sullivan Center (SSC) Post-Deployment Online Healthcare Resource initiative. For additional information, please contact the SSC by emailing us at info@sgtsullivancenter.org.
1. What are the rights of Service members in the Military Healthcare System (MHS)?
Service members have the right to quality care that is consistent with available resources and accepted standards. This includes access to specialty care and pain management services. For a listing of Service members’ rights, please see the Department of Defense (DoD) Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
2. What healthcare assessments should Service members receive immediately following deployment?
Service members receive the Post Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) after deployment. The PDHA is used to identify possible deployment related illnesses and exposures. The PDHA includes an educational briefing, web-based questionnaire, and health care provider interview. Ideally, the PDHA should be completed within five days of returning to the home station or processing station. However, the PDHA can be completed any time within 30 days of return. Review a sample PDHA questionnaire.
The Post Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) provides a second health assessment and should be completed 90 to 180 days after deployment. This assessment is designed to identify health concerns that did not exist immediately following deployment. The form must be completed in an electronic or web-enabled form following service specific (branch specific) directives. For more information about the PDHRA, review PDHRA Frequently Asked Questions. Review sample PDHRA questionnaire.
Patient and providers may refer to these questionnaires throughout the management of complicated post-deployment illnesses, as these completed questionnaires provide basic summary information about potential health hazards encountered by Service members in theater.
3. Are there guidelines for providing healthcare for post-deployment health issues?
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Post-Deployment Health Evaluation and Management have been developed by a collaborative work group from the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. These guidelines are designed to assist primary care providers to treat medical problems that may be related to deployment. The Post-Deployment Health Guidelines serve as a reference for clinicians with an overall goal of improving patient outcomes. Review a version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines.
4. Are there departments or programs that specialize in post-deployment healthcare?
The Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed National Medical Center provides a gateway to information about deployment health and healthcare delivery for use by providers, Service members, Veterans, and their families through its website http://www.pdhealth.mil/main.asp. Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) across the Military Healthcare System (MHS) offer a variety of specialty care programs. Providers at specific locations (both primary care and specialty care providers) can provide information about specialty treatment and programming available in those locations.
The War Related Injury and Illness Study Center (WRIISC), a VA based program, focuses on post-deployment health issues and concerns. The WRIISC conducts two types of evaluations; the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation and the Environmental Exposure Assessment. The Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation is for Veterans with complex health conditions having no identified cause. This evaluation is also for Veterans who have had multiple tests and/or treatments with little to no symptom improvement. The Environmental Exposure Assessment is available for Veterans of all eras who are concerned about environmental exposures. This type of assessment can be done over the phone for those who are unable to travel to one of the WRIISC locations.
The WRIISC also offers an Integrative Health and Wellness (IHW) Program. The IHW emphasizes strong, collaborative partnerships between health care providers and patients. IHW treatments include: preventive health; nutrition; exercise therapy; yoga; acupuncture; meditation; and relaxation techniques.
There are three War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) facilities for which toll free numbers appear below.
CA WRIISC DC WRIISC NJ WRISSC
1-888-482-4376 1-800-722-8340 1-800-248-8005
For VA Providers: A referral to the WRIISC program is made by the Veteran's Primary Care Provider (PCP) and is done using the Inter Facility Consult (IFC) process in the local Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). For detailed information about referrals, please see http://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/va-referrals.asp
*Post-deployment programs, procedures, and polices are adjusted as new information is gathered. Please consult a healthcare professional, DoD/VA representative, or attorney for professional guidance on military and VA healthcare issues and concerns. This online resource is provided as a public service only and is not meant to serve as legal or medical advice. Copyright © SSC 2012 all rights reserved.
.
1. What are the rights of Service members in the Military Healthcare System (MHS)?
Service members have the right to quality care that is consistent with available resources and accepted standards. This includes access to specialty care and pain management services. For a listing of Service members’ rights, please see the Department of Defense (DoD) Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
2. What healthcare assessments should Service members receive immediately following deployment?
Service members receive the Post Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) after deployment. The PDHA is used to identify possible deployment related illnesses and exposures. The PDHA includes an educational briefing, web-based questionnaire, and health care provider interview. Ideally, the PDHA should be completed within five days of returning to the home station or processing station. However, the PDHA can be completed any time within 30 days of return. Review a sample PDHA questionnaire.
The Post Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) provides a second health assessment and should be completed 90 to 180 days after deployment. This assessment is designed to identify health concerns that did not exist immediately following deployment. The form must be completed in an electronic or web-enabled form following service specific (branch specific) directives. For more information about the PDHRA, review PDHRA Frequently Asked Questions. Review sample PDHRA questionnaire.
Patient and providers may refer to these questionnaires throughout the management of complicated post-deployment illnesses, as these completed questionnaires provide basic summary information about potential health hazards encountered by Service members in theater.
3. Are there guidelines for providing healthcare for post-deployment health issues?
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Post-Deployment Health Evaluation and Management have been developed by a collaborative work group from the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. These guidelines are designed to assist primary care providers to treat medical problems that may be related to deployment. The Post-Deployment Health Guidelines serve as a reference for clinicians with an overall goal of improving patient outcomes. Review a version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines.
4. Are there departments or programs that specialize in post-deployment healthcare?
The Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed National Medical Center provides a gateway to information about deployment health and healthcare delivery for use by providers, Service members, Veterans, and their families through its website http://www.pdhealth.mil/main.asp. Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) across the Military Healthcare System (MHS) offer a variety of specialty care programs. Providers at specific locations (both primary care and specialty care providers) can provide information about specialty treatment and programming available in those locations.
The War Related Injury and Illness Study Center (WRIISC), a VA based program, focuses on post-deployment health issues and concerns. The WRIISC conducts two types of evaluations; the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation and the Environmental Exposure Assessment. The Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation is for Veterans with complex health conditions having no identified cause. This evaluation is also for Veterans who have had multiple tests and/or treatments with little to no symptom improvement. The Environmental Exposure Assessment is available for Veterans of all eras who are concerned about environmental exposures. This type of assessment can be done over the phone for those who are unable to travel to one of the WRIISC locations.
The WRIISC also offers an Integrative Health and Wellness (IHW) Program. The IHW emphasizes strong, collaborative partnerships between health care providers and patients. IHW treatments include: preventive health; nutrition; exercise therapy; yoga; acupuncture; meditation; and relaxation techniques.
There are three War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) facilities for which toll free numbers appear below.
CA WRIISC DC WRIISC NJ WRISSC
1-888-482-4376 1-800-722-8340 1-800-248-8005
For VA Providers: A referral to the WRIISC program is made by the Veteran's Primary Care Provider (PCP) and is done using the Inter Facility Consult (IFC) process in the local Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). For detailed information about referrals, please see http://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/va-referrals.asp
*Post-deployment programs, procedures, and polices are adjusted as new information is gathered. Please consult a healthcare professional, DoD/VA representative, or attorney for professional guidance on military and VA healthcare issues and concerns. This online resource is provided as a public service only and is not meant to serve as legal or medical advice. Copyright © SSC 2012 all rights reserved.
.
Site Navigation: Home About Us Programs Nov. 11 Reception Contact Us Resources Support Us
The Sergeant Thomas Joseph Sullivan Center 2500 Virginia Avenue, NW #407-S Washington, DC 20037
1-855-SGT-SULLY or 1-855-748-7855 info@sgtsullivancenter.org www.sgtsullivancenter.org
