National Health Care Campaign to Better Serve Veterans

WASHINGTON — In order to better serve veterans and their families, the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) has launched a campaign entitled Have You Ever Served in the Military?

Understanding a patient’s military background of patients allows nurses and physicians to better understand the health risks a patient may have come in contact with, according to the AAN.

“This single questions — ‘Have you served in the military?’ — can be the key to timely and adequate assessments, diagnosis and treatment,” said Linda Schwartz, a fellow of AAN and commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

The campaign officially launched on Labor Day at the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) conference in Washington. The campaign also encourages health care providers to better serve the families of veterans. Veterans have their own unique health risks not common to civilians. For example, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who have slept near open-burn pits may have been exposed to multiple toxins that can lead to an increased risk of respiratory illnesses and cancers, including leukemia.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that less than 20 percent of all veterans receive medical care with the VA health care system. Additionally, only 56 percent of providers routinely ask their patients about their status as a current or former member of the armed forces, according to Dr. Harold Kudler, associate director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center.

The campaign is part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden’s Joining Forces campaign, which aims to mobilize all sectors of the community in support of veterans and their families.

“For some of our veterans, the transition from combat to civilian life brings with it some of the hardest moments they and their families will ever face. While the majority of our veterans make this transition smoothly, we know that post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries pose significant challenges for so many military families. But too often these conditions are improperly diagnosed or veterans and their families simply don’t receive adequate treatment and support,” Obama said in a statement released Veteran’s Day. “That’s why major national associations of doctors, nurses, medical schools, physical therapists and social workers have committed to educating their members about these issues, expanding their research on promising treatments and cures, and providing world-class care and support for all of those who are contending with the unseen wounds of war and for their families.”