New resources to optimise veteran healthcare
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has partnered with Medcast, to provide freely available resources for health professionals to assess and manage veterans’ health.
An initiative funded by the Australian Government, VETs HeLP represents a significant advancement in educating and empowering health professionals to provide better and integrated support for veterans and their families.
To assist health professionals unpack the relevant history in a consultation, the new VETs HeLP Learning Hub provides an assessment framework based on a “VETERANS” mnemonic. Using podcasts, case scenarios, webinars and audits, health professionals are provided with a veteran’s lens to help them understand the transition from active service to civilian life, and the impact of this transition on their loved ones.
Rates of disability and suicide in veterans are well above population norms, and the resources provided aim to address these issues by helping health professionals master best practices in sensitively interviewing patients to build trust and provide appropriate treatment plans.
Health professionals are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families outside of military service and play a crucial role in their engagement with support networks. General practitioner and Director of Medcast, Clinical Associate Professor Stephen Barnett said, “VETs HeLP is an exciting initiative that supports the government’s vision of integrated long-term support for veterans and their families. Health professionals play a pivotal role in the veteran’s Transition Ecosystem of support, identified as a priority in the Government’s 2023 Veteran Transition Strategy.”
The first VETs HeLP webinar ‘Understanding our veterans’ healthcare’ is scheduled on 10 July 2024. For more information about the webinar and to access the VETs HeLP platform, health professionals can visit Medcast’s VETs HeLP site.
For health providers, there are also resources to help them navigate DVA claims processes and the education is CPD-accredited by the RACGP and ACRRM.
Stephen is a GP Supervisor, Medical Educator, GP academic and Medical Director of Medcast. He has completed a PhD on Virtual Communities of Practice in GP Training.
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