Care of women veterans

Ximena A Levander; Maryann K Overland

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.013

Care of women veterans

Med Clin North Am. 2015 May;99(3):651-62. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.013. Epub 2015 Mar 3.

Authors

Ximena A Levander¹, Maryann K Overland²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195-6421, USA. Electronic address: Ximena@u.washington.edu.
² Department of Medicine, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195-6421, USA.

PMID: 25841605
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.013

Abstract

As more women have joined the US military, there has been a shift in the overall veteran population. Those who served in the US military, especially women, have undergone experiences that will impact their overall health and wellbeing. It is therefore critical for providers to better understand US military culture and be prepared on how to ask patients about their military experience. Health care providers need to be aware of the unique medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial needs of women veterans in order to best serve this patient population.

Keywords: Chronic pain syndromes; Functional gastrointestinal disorders; Military cultural competency; Military sexual trauma; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Veteran homelessness; Women veterans.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Delivery of Health Care / methods*
Female
Health Services Needs and Demand*
Humans
Military Personnel
Risk Factors
Veterans
Veterans Health*
Women's Health Services*