Explore the VETERANS Lens by clicking on or hovering over each letter.
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VETERANS Lens
Values and culture
Explore your veteran’s experiences within the ADF, including their career history and highlights, deployment experiences and discharge history.
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Exposures: Ears, eyes and other occupational exposures
Ask about your veteran’s possible occupational exposures based on their role and experiences within the ADF.
Do not forget to enquire about their hearing and vision.
Take this opportunity to discuss any previous medical illness and injury, including history of concussion(s).
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Transition
The ADF experience will have significantly shaped the person sitting before you in your consultation room (and their family).
Consider how the veterans transition experience, be it self directed, medical discharge or transfer to reserves, might be relevant medically, socially and emotionally
for this person.
Don’t underestimate the importance of taking your time in the early stages of the consultation to explore your veteran’s experiences.
Familiarise yourself with the Veteran Health Check, as this will provide the context for you to apply the VETERANS lens and better understand the person before you.
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Values and culture
Exposures: ears, eyes and other occupational exposures
Emotional history: Mental health, wellbeing and connectedness
Make sure you review your veteran’s mental health.
Utilise a screening tool such as K10,
DASS 21, PC-PTSD-5 or GAD-7 to decide if a further mental health history is required.
Explore your veteran’s interests. Find out what activities they are involved in outside work and home. Gauge their feeling of connectedness with a community.
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Transition
Emotional history: mental health, wellbeing and connectedness
Review of usual medical care including sexual health
Review of usual medical care including sexual health
As a GP, this is your standard consultation.
Check on the patients past medical history, medication history and current concerns surrounding their health.
Always remember to consider their sexual health.
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Alcohol and substance use
Navigating the system
Supports: social and resources
Alcohol and substance use
Sensitively explore the veteran’s regular alcohol, smoking or other substance use.
A screening tool, such as the AUDIT-C, can be useful.
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Navigating the system
It may be challenging for a veteran to understand exactly how they might utilise DVA assistance to access health care and support.
Similarly, you may initially find the system of DVA support for veterans to be quite complex from a provider’s perspective.
This course will introduce you to resources designed to assist you through this process. They will help build your understanding of the type of opportunities you may leverage via DVA to support your veteran patients.
Navigating the civilian health system can be a challenge for ex-ADF members, and they will undoubtedly look to you for guidance.
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Supports: Social and Resources
Understanding who is within the veteran’s support network is important. Explore any resources for veterans and their families they may have utilised or are aware of being available.
What resources are you already aware of that you could potentially share with veterans?
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