FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
McDonald Army Health Center has launched a treatment model designed by the United States Department of Defense's Deployment Health Clinical Center to screen, assess and treat active-duty Soldiers with depression and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Implementation of the Re-Engineering Systems of Primary Care Treatment in the Military program begins with Troop Medical Clinic 2 at Fort Eustis. All Soldiers enrolled to TMC 2 will complete a short, simple screening questionnaire when visiting their primary care clinic. If they screen positive, they will be asked to fill out an additional questionnaire with questions about their energy level, ability to sleep and appetite, to name a few. Based on their responses, primary care clinicians specifically trained to screen for and communicate with Soldiers about depression and PTSD will first evaluate, and then develop, a treatment plan for each Soldier, if needed.
A Soldier's treatment may include prescription medications, counseling or both. Once a treatment plan is devised, a RESPECT-MIL Care Facilitator (registered nurse) will monitor the Soldier's progress through periodic phone contact. The care facilitator, in turn, will convey Soldier health updates to primary care providers and mental health supervisors.
When a Soldier is diagnosed with depression and/or PTSD and accepts a treatment plan, it is critical that the treatment plan be followed very closely. If counseling is prescribed, the Soldier should go to the appointments and be honest and open with information. If medication is prescribed, the medications should be taken only as prescribed. Some Soldiers may experience mild side effects of the medication; that is not uncommon and should improve with time. Never stop taking medications without discussing with your primary care manager.
The nurse coordinator/program manager for RESPECT-MIL is Deborah Murray. For more information or to contact Murray, call 604-2303.