Utilization of PTSD Screening in a Primary Care Setting
Background
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, nearly 14 years ago, there have been over 2 million military personnel deployed in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), with more than 45% of this number having deployed more than once (Castro, 2014). Combat operations in both the Afghanistan and Iraqi theater have created a population of combat veterans in America who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (Fulton et al., 2015). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects roughly 23% of returning veterans, which would amount to over 460,000 veterans (Fulton et al., 2015). At the peak of combat veterans returning home from combat in 2012, more than 17,000 combat veterans were being diagnosed with PTSD yearly and this number has continued to rise (Castro, 2014).
The negative …show more content…
As a primary care provider in the community, this project will provide healthcare providers with the importance of identifying patients as combat veterans in order to effectively screen for PTSD. Early identification and prompt treatment can improve both the patient’s overall health and personal well-being. Post traumatic stress disorder is associated with several adverse health complications and social consequences, including; diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, as well as unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, and suicide (Boyko et al., 2010; Anderson, Possemato, & Ouimette, 2010). Fiscally and morally, effects of untreated PTSD can increase the utilization of medical services and increased mortality (Possemato, Bishop, Willis, & Lantinga, 2013). It is health care providers obligation to address the needs of all of our patients by ensuring that each individual patient be keenly assessed, accurately diagnosed and properly
Background
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, nearly 14 years ago, there have been over 2 million military personnel deployed in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), with more than 45% of this number having deployed more than once (Castro, 2014). Combat operations in both the Afghanistan and Iraqi theater have created a population of combat veterans in America who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (Fulton et al., 2015). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects roughly 23% of returning veterans, which would amount to over 460,000 veterans (Fulton et al., 2015). At the peak of combat veterans returning home from combat in 2012, more than 17,000 combat veterans were being diagnosed with PTSD yearly and this number has continued to rise (Castro, 2014).
The negative …show more content…
As a primary care provider in the community, this project will provide healthcare providers with the importance of identifying patients as combat veterans in order to effectively screen for PTSD. Early identification and prompt treatment can improve both the patient’s overall health and personal well-being. Post traumatic stress disorder is associated with several adverse health complications and social consequences, including; diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, as well as unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, and suicide (Boyko et al., 2010; Anderson, Possemato, & Ouimette, 2010). Fiscally and morally, effects of untreated PTSD can increase the utilization of medical services and increased mortality (Possemato, Bishop, Willis, & Lantinga, 2013). It is health care providers obligation to address the needs of all of our patients by ensuring that each individual patient be keenly assessed, accurately diagnosed and properly