Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Exposure Informed Care for Health Care Providers

Exposure-Informed Care for
Health Care Professionals

Exposure-informed care is a comprehensive approach to creating and maintaining an environment of care in which toxic exposures and their potential impact on a Veteran's health are always kept in mind.

Sign up for updates on trainings and educational resources for health care professionals.

Why exposure-informed care matters

Military exposure concerns are common and impactful. Adopting an exposure-informed care approach can enhance trust and health outcomes among Veterans. VA is transforming the environment of care through a shared commitment to address any exposure-related health concerns.

How to practice exposure-informed care

Exposure-informed care is a collaborative process between health care professionals and Veterans which includes listening, acknowledging, learning, and working together toward the shared mission of effectively assessing and addressing health concerns potentially related to military environmental exposures.

Health Care Professionals can practice exposure-informed care by...
  • Using Concordant Communication. When using concordant communication, health care professionals validate Veterans' concerns and acknowledge the uncertainty about military environmental exposures.
  • Building Trust. Health care professionals must be mindful to take steps to build trust with Veterans who experienced military environmental exposures.
  • Providing Support and Resources. Health care professionals should provide Veterans with information, resources, and support about environmental exposures, including disability and compensation benefits, and presumptive conditions for military environmental exposures.
  • Assessing and Documenting. Screening for potential military exposure concerns and documenting these clinical interactions is a core component to exposure-informed care.
  • Taking Professional Responsibility. All health care professionals recognize that they have a role in serving Veterans with military environmental exposures.
  • Integrating into Care. Health care professionals must consider military environmental exposures as a possible factor when assessing and treating Veterans, and recognize that exposure can affect all aspects of Veterans' health.
Exposure-informed care is vital to providing high-quality care to Veterans, thus should be integrated into...
  • Clinical care practices.
  • Communication and interactions with Veterans and their caregivers.
  • Research and evaluation.
  • Education and training of all team members and affiliated parties.
  • Policy development.

You're the first step in exposure-informed care for Veterans.

It can be difficult to find time for continued education, which is why the VA's War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) designed the Military Environmental Exposures training to be modular and flexible. Whether you have an hour or only 15 minutes, WRIISC has trainings to fit your busy schedule.

Below are 15-minute resources that you can review during your morning coffee!
Patient being screened Toxic Exposure Screening Information
Screenshot of app Exposure Ed VA Mobile App
Soldier in setting sun Exposure Topics A-Z - Public Health (va.gov)
Soldier in the desert Military Exposures - Public Health (va.gov)
WRIISC-HOME Logo Information Sheets
Lung graphic Deployment-Related Respiratory Disease Toolkit
Photo of the Pocket Card Military Environmental Exposures Pocket Card
If you have more time, check out these resources that take around 30 minutes!
Barrel of hazardous chemicals Military Exposure Clinical Brief Series
Podcast Logo Veterans' Health Matters Podcast Series
The following resources and courses take a deeper dive into exposure-informed care and take 60 minutes or more!
Module 1 title screen Assessing Deployment Related Environmental Exposures
Module 2 title screen Airborne Hazards
Module 3 title screen Gulf War Illness
Module 4 title screen Chronic Multisymptom Illness
Module 5 title screen Depleted Uranium and Toxic Embedded Fragments
WRIISC-HOME Logo WRIISC Webinar Series

*Many of these courses are part of a larger certification program in military environmental exposures, at no cost.

To begin, visit Military Environmental Exposures Certifications | ACPM.

Click here to learn more about how VA is informing Veterans
about exposure-informed care.
WRIISC/ChooseVA
return to top go