AAPA's Caring for Veterans and Military Families Initiative brings awareness to all PAs so that they can provide the military and veteran communities the care and support they need.
AAPA continues its commitment to serving the military, veterans and their families by offering a 14-hour military and veteran health-related track at AAPA’s 2013 Annual Conference. This track was developed in collaboration with AAPA’s Veteran’s Caucus, PAs in military or federal service and other national partners committed to caring for veterans, such as The Defense Veteran Brain Injury Center and PAs from Walter Reed Hospital. The track includes a 1.5 hour patient and caregiver panel on some of the complex conditions faced by the military and veteran populations.
NEW CME Highlights: New activity added to Veterans Track (complete track listed below): Using Evidence-Based Screening Tools in Primary Care Evaluations of Returning Service Members
This course is sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and is part of the AHEC Veteran's Mental Health Project, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. PAs who complete this program and its post-lecture requirements are eligible to be recognized by the Citizen Soldier Support Program as a veteran-friendly provider in the War Within database. Instructions for registering in the War Within database will be provided during the training. This course is open to all conference attendees.
Other military and veteran-related activities at conference include the Annual Veteran’s Caucus Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27. Seating starts at 5 p.m. Service starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. It will be held in Ballroom B of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Veterans Caucus Reception to follow with refreshments, camaraderie and the Veterans Caucus Annual Auction that benefits the Scholarship Fund.
Please contact Leocadia Conlon, PA-C, MPH if you would like to add any related activities or resources to this webpage either in regard to conference and/or AAPA's overall initiative in Caring for Veterans and Military Families.
Information related to the Military and Veteran Health CME track
Please join us at IMPACT 2013 for the track that will take place Sunday, May 26 – Tuesday, May 28 in Washington, D.C. Topics include:
- How Civilian Medicine Can Thank the Military
- Trauma Combat Care
- Prosthetic Care in an Amputee Patient
- The Silent Society: Navigating the Military Culture
- Traumatic Brain Injury in Combat Veterans: From Injury Event Through Long-Term Management
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Diagnosis, Causes and Treatment
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD – A New Modality
- Keep the Noise Down – Impact of Hyperarousal on Postconcussive Symptoms
- Veterans’ Sleep Problems: Same as Everyone’s, Only Different
- Suicide in the Military
- Caring for a Child Whose Parent Is Deployed, Fallen or Dealing with Consequences of Combat Deployment
- Living with PTSD and TBI – a Patient and Caregiver Perspective
- Smoldering Tropical Diseases in the Redeploying Soldier
- Differential Diagnosis of the Acute Febrile Illness in the Deployed Soldier
- Using Evidence-Based Screening Tools in Primary Care Evaluations of Returning Service Members
CME and other resources for PAs caring for veterans and military families
PAs Supporting Veterans
Job and education resources for veterans
Joining Forces Initiative
Knowledge and Awareness
Traumatic Brain Injury
PTSD
Know what to expect, how to screen, what is normal and when to refer.
Understanding Military Culture
Suicide Prevention
The suicide rate among the military community has recently increased to the haunting statistic of one active-duty member of our Armed Forces per day. PTSD and depression among warriors is currently a prominent issue because advances have allowed a higher percentage of our troops to return home. Research has shown that PTSD is directly correlated to suicide. The Department of Defense released a study indicating that 95 percent of its participants that had initially attempted suicide because they wanted to die later recognized that they had actually wanted to escape emotional pain.
Ask – If someone is thinking of suicide.
Care – Listen, offer hope, and don’t judge.
Escort – Take action, don’t leave the person alone, and escort them to assistance.
The Military/Veterans Crisis Line provides immediate attention at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Additional Resources
PAs Supporting Veterans
Read about the Horse Rhythm Foundation — a national nonprofit organization founded and run by physician assistants to support veterans and their families.
Merri-Beth Cully, MPA, PA-C, is awarded the 2012 Military Officers Association of America Community Hero Award.
Job and Education Resources for Veterans
Recognizing that well-being is more than just physical health, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Warrior and Family Support program has discussed the "Model of Excellence" as the necessary trinity for military veterans to successfully reintegrate into society. This includes access to healthcare, employment and education. PAs can support the total wellness of military veterans by providing resources for employment and education in addition to being their healthcare provider. The Physician Assistant Education Association has resources for military veterans who may be interested in applying to a physician assistant program.The Joining Forces Campaign website provides employment resources for military veterans. Other sources are Vetsuccess and Military OneSource.
The Joining Forces Initiative
AAPA is a partner in the Joining Forces Initiative.
Message from the director of physician assistant services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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