Citation

Lypson ML, Ross PT, Zimmerman N, Goldrath KE, Ravindranath D. Acad. Med. 2016; 91(10): 1379-1383.

Affiliation

M.L. Lypson is associate chief of staff for education, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. P.T. Ross is director of advancing scholarship, Office of Medical Student Education, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. N. Zimmerman is a preveterinarian student and participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. K.E. Goldrath is a third-year medical student, University of Michigan, and former fellow, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research Summer Disparities Program, Ann Arbor, Michigan. D. Ravindranath is director, Mental Health Evaluation Clinic and Consultation Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Association of American Medical Colleges, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/ACM.0000000000001162

PMID

27008358

Abstract

PROBLEM: Addressing the medical concerns of veterans in both civilian health care systems and the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, where staff are familiar with issues of military reintegration, remains difficult but is increasingly important. APPROACH: In 2013, the authors developed and implemented a faculty development workshop for practicing clinicians using the documentary Where Soldiers Come From. The workshop included topics on unconscious bias, the service member trajectory, health care disparities, and strategies for overcoming barriers to treating veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The workshop engaged faculty in the following active-learning techniques: images in education; trigger video; critical thinking and reflective writing; think-pair-share; and large-group discussion. The workshop has been conducted at three locations with 46 health care professionals. OUTCOMES: Thirty-one of 37 (84%) participants who completed the workshop evaluation were VA employees. The evaluation results show 25/32 (78.1%) participants indicated the workshop activities changed their knowledge, attitudes, and/or skills; 22/34 (64.7%) stated they had a better understanding of how to develop a care plan for veterans; and 27/34 (79.4%) stated they gained a better understanding of how to prepare for issues around returning veterans. NEXT STEPS: To address the issue of veteran-centered care education more broadly, the authors have developed a massive open online course for health professionals, using most of the content from this workshop, which will be offered in spring 2016. Another important next step will be to deliver this workshop to and collect evaluation data from non-VA providers.

Language: en