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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
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Winter 2006
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Caring For a New Generation — Easing the Transition
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Helping veterans readjust after returning home
For veterans returning from
Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OIF/OEF), readjustment
can be slow and painful. In some
cases, mental health and behavioral
problems may not surface
until veterans have rejoined their
families, friends and co-workers.
A new VA and Department of
Defense program, known as Post-
Deployment Health Reassessment
(PDHRA), could make the return
to civilian life easier. Within three
to six months, returning troops
will take part in a PDHRA screening
and evaluation session run by
health care professionals.
“It’s one of the more forwardleaning
outreach and early identification
initiatives ever undertaken for
returning citizen-soldier war veterans,”
says Col. Terry Washam.
Washam is a reserve social work consultant
with the U.S. Army Office of
Seamless Transition. “PDHRA is
designed to identify issues before they
become chronic problems.”
To date, more than 22,000
OIF/OEF veterans have been
screened at approximately 300
on-site PDHRA screening events
nationwide. As a result, more than
8,000 veterans have been referred
to VA medical centers and Vet
Centers. About 300,000 activeduty
and Reserve soldiers are
expected to complete the program
“VA has not served this large
of a citizen-soldier group since
World War II and Korea,”
Col. Washam says.
PDHRA will take place some time
within a three- to six-month screening
window during a Guard or
Reserve unit weekend with a special
health care team of physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
The team will decide whether
follow-up care or evaluation to help
deal with problems like depression,
anxiety, sleeplessness, substance
abuse or marital difficulties is needed.
If so, Medical Center and Vet
Center staff from VA Healthcare
Network Upstate New York will
help arrange referrals.
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Winter 2006
Wishing You a Safe and Happy Holiday! |
Keep Your Vision Sharp |
Healthy Holiday Fare
Keep Your Joints Limber |
Incontinence |
Easing the Transition Home
Special Care for Combat Wounded |
VA News and Updates |
Wellness Programs
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: January 16, 2007 |
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