The University of Indiana has recently announced that it will be holding the Veterans Interprofessional Case Competition on April 7. The event will focus on introducing 30 USI students training to become health care providers to the unique needs of veterans during life after military service and the post-combat experiences they may face. Military experts from across the country, along with faculty members, will educate students during the workshop.
The impact of war on servicemembers and loved ones
According to the university, Vaughn DeCoster, Ph.D., associate professor of social work, noted that almost 8 million military servicemembers have been sent to war over the past 50 years. Not only does this impact the servicemen, but their loved ones as well.
Due to the large number of people impacted by war experiences, health care providers are more than likely to treat one of these patients. DeCoster explained that students working toward a career in health care or social service should learn how to care for these patients. In order to deliver high-quality care to veterans and their families, social service and health care employees must work together to remain sensitive to their patients' specific needs and experiences.
Future care providers prepare for patients with war-related issues
The workshop will start with the presentation of the colors by USI's Reserve Officer's Training Corps color guard. The students invited to attend the event will be pursuing a career in social work, occupational therapy, food and nutrition or nursing.
During the event, veterans will recite case vignettes to interdisciplinary student teams, who will then develop and present an intervention plan to a panel of experts.
"This activity is unique because it combines essential knowledge of the military, combat and post-war readjustment, along with evidence-based approaches and local resources," said DeCoster, according to a news release by the university. "During this team activity, students will apply what they have learned and interact with care providers and actual representatives from the veteran patient population. This is a great opportunity for the student teams to learn assessment skills, identify key problems, develop a holistic intervention plan and problem solve possible care challenges."
One guest speaker, Tony Sanavria, a retired lieutenant colonel after 25 years of active duty, will educate the students on what it is like to be on tour during wars in Iraq, Korea and Afghanistan and explain the issues that he and his friends had to face once they returned to civilian life. This will reach students on an informative and emotional level.