The Mission Act—signed into law in 2018—recognizes that the health care needs of patients who are veterans can no longer be fully served by the Veterans Health Administration.1 This act allows some veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system or otherwise entitled to VA care to access treatment outside of VA facilities.1 As a result, psychiatrists may treat veterans more frequently.
During such patients’ initial visit, obtaining a detailed history of their military service can reveal vital clinical information and establish a therapeutic alliance that can help foster positive treatment outcomes. Here we offer an A-to-L list of important questions to ask veterans about their military service, and explanations of why these questions are valuable.
Attained rank. What rank did you attain during your military service? Did you retire from the military? How many years did you serve?
Asking about your patient’s rank, retirement status, and time in service is vital to understanding their military experience. By military law, only individuals who retired from the military can use their rank as an identifier after they leave the military, although some veterans may not wish to be called by their rank in a clinical setting.
Branch. Which branch of the military did you serve? Were you in Active Duty, the Reserves, or the National Guard?
Military members often take great pride in service of their specific branch. Each branch has its own language, culture, values, and exposures. If your patient has served in a combination of Active Duty, Reserves, and/or National Guard, ask how much time they spent in each.
Culture. What part of the military culture was positive or negative for you?
Continue to: There is a clear culture...