IRAQ WAR CLINICIAN GUIDE

Iraq War Clinician Guide 93 Appendix C
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Appendix C. VA Documents on Service Provision
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VA/DoD COLLABORATION ON RETURNlNG COMBAT VETERANS:
GUIDANCE FOR VHA FACILITY POINTS OF CONTACT
September 2003
Background: The Department ofveterans Affairs (VA) is collaborating with the
Department of Defense (Don) and their Militarv Treatment Fncilitics(MTFs) lo
scamlessly transfer the llealthcare of returning combat veterans from the MTF to a
Veterans Health Administration (VHAI ticililv. Each VHA facilitv has selected a Point of
Contact who will work closely Gth thi VHA social workers serviig as VHNDoD
Liaisons detailed to MTFs and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) representatives to
assure aseamless transition and transfer of care. While this initiative pertains orimarilv to
military personnel returniug from Afghanistan (Operation Enduring ~iecdom)andlrad
(Operation lraai Freedom). .. it also includes acti\,edutv militarv .. oersonnul rcturninr - from
;tier combat &signments.
VHAIDoD Liaisons:
The Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center has assigned a full time social worker
(Xiomara Telfer) to Walter Reed Amy Medical Ccntcr and the National Naval
Medical Center in Bethesda.
The San Antonio VA Medical Center llas assigned social worker James Lasntcr to
liaison with Brooke Anny Medical Center
The VA Puget Sound VA Health Carc System has assigned social worker Brooke
Eggimann to liaison with Madigan Anny Medical Center.
The Augusta, Georgia VAMC has ass~&cdsocial worker 1)eborah Wakcfield to
liaison with Eisenhower Annv Medical Center.
Supervisory social worker Jennifer Perez, the Point of Contact (POC) for the
Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, will serve as VHAlDoD Liaison for the
remaining MTF's.
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Roles and Functions of the VHAIDoD Liaison:
The primary role of tho VHNDoD Liaisons is to assure the transfer ofhealth carc,
both inpatient and outpatient, from theMTF to the appropriate VHA facility.
While the provision of direct servicls may be ~~~~~~~ary some situations,~tis not
a orereauisite . . to the unman, rcfenal and linkoac - function. Onsitc collabontion and
coordination is, however, crucial.
The liaisons will establish contact with DoD social workers, case managers and
discharrre -. olanners to identifi .. oatients readv for discharee - to VHA and to ohtain
clenr rcfenal information, including the VA/DoD Referral Fom, Admission Sheet,
and MTF Medical Records. The referral should clearly identify the patient's health
care and usvchosocial needs and reuuests for VHA health care services.
The liaison; will collaboratewith staff in their facility's Eligibility Office to
initially enroll returning combat veterans at their facility as active duty, utilizing tllc
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
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NATIONAL CENTER FOR PTSD