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The VETERANS lens: A new tool to enhance consultations with veteran patients
Catherine Eltringham1, Anna Colwell2, Stephen Barnett3
1MBBS, FRACGP, General Practitioner, Family Doctors Highton, Geelong, Vic; National Clinical Lead, Medical Educator Professional Development, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Melbourne, Vic.
Background:
Various factors from service in the Australian Defence Force can influence a veteran's health and wellbeing on transitioning from service. Using available resources to support veterans' healthcare, such as the VETERANS lens tool, enables general practitioners (GPs) to provide primary care that is sensitive and relevant to a veteran's experiences.
Objective:
This article is aimed at improving awareness of the VETERANS lens tool among GPs and discussing how it can be used to support a comprehensive consultation for veteran patients by providing a structured approach to issues commonly arising from military service.
Discussion:
Veteran patients come with a unique background, where their service history, exposures and transitions all play a part in influencing their health and wellbeing, as well as their perception of and access to primary healthcare. The VETERANS lens tool equips GPs to modify their approach to this patient cohort to most effectively optimise health outcomes.
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Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.
