Medical Evaluation Programs |
DoD, VA Ask for Veterans' Comments on Clinical
Practice Guidelines
Building on the lessons of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, the DoD and VA
are expanding existing clinical programs for post-deployment screening
and evaluation. The Departments are developing clinical practice guidelines
to assist health care providers in screening and evaluating service members
with health concerns following deployment. These deployment health guidelines
are currently in development, with pilot testing scheduled for summer
of 2001. During this development phase, program managers are asking for
veterans' input. To ensure your comments are considered, please write
to charles.engel@amedd.army.mil by December 31, 2000. Your input is an
important component of the planning process.
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DoD's
Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program (CCEP)
DoD established the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program
to provide an in-depth medical evaluation to all eligible beneficiaries
who have health concerns following service in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. All service members
eligible for health care at DoD medical facilities include 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans
now on active duty or retired; and all members of the Reserve components
who are placed on orders by their units; and eligible family members of
such personnel. To register, individuals should call the DoD toll-free
number at (800-796-9699).
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Medical
Follow-Up Program
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have instituted a new
program to evaluate veterans with exposures to Deplete Uranium (DU) which
have been determined to have produced the highest resultant dosage. This
program will allow scientific documentation of the presence or absence
of medical effects from such DU exposures. Approximately 300 soldiers
will be contacted by the former Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War
Illnesses (now Force Health Protection & Readiness Policy & Programs) to validate their DU exposure and to encourage them to participate
in the medical follow-up program. The evaluation will consist of a complete
physical examination, a DU exposure questionnaire and a 24-hour urine
collection for uranium level. This program will identify veterans with
higher than normal levels of uranium in their urine and provide them appropriate
monitoring and follow-up, if required. Soldiers are expected to have normal
levels of uranium in their urine unless they have DU fragments embedded
in their bodies. |
VA
Gulf War Registry
The Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf War Registry offers
a free, complete physical examination with basic laboratory studies to
every veteran who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. VA has named a physician at
every VA medical center to coordinate the special examination program,
which elicits information about symptoms and exposures and directs baseline
laboratory studies. A centralized registry of participants who have had
these examinations are maintained to enable VA to keep them informed through
periodic newsletters. VA is also inviting spouses and children of 1990-1991 Gulf
War Veterans who have received a Registry examination to take advantage
of the special health examinations. VA offers a toll-free information
line at 800-PGW-VETS (800-749-8387) with questions about care and benefits,
and to schedule examinations. In Germany contact the Foreign Benefits
Unit at the nearest U.S. Embassy.
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