Western Massachusetts Veterans Outreach Project
Just Ask Campaign: Testimonies
The Just Ask Campaign's two objectives were to highlight how veterans, reserve military personnel, and their families are being treated by civilian healthcare providers, and to encourage these providers to gather military service information. We wanted to know if and how civilian providers are screening patients for connections to the military, and if the providers are documenting and responding to health conditions related to military life.​​
We found that asking the question, "Have you or your family members served in the military?," was only intermittent among healthcare and support service providers.
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To support the Just Ask Campaign, we made educational video testimonies that can inform civilian healthcare providers about the importance of proper intake screening for patients with military service connections. These testimonies also serve as a call to action for providers to seek out the educational resources we have reviewed and curated for them.
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We interviewed people who provide services to veterans and military families. One person is a veteran, one is a veteran married to a veteran, and one is the civilian spouse of a veteran. They all have children who have experienced military life and its complex legacy. They all have pertinent experiences with civilian healthcare providers.
Central Hampshire MA
Veterans Service Officer
Steven Connor
Do Doctors Need to Ask About Military Service?
Chicopee MA
Veterans Service Officer Stephanie Shaw
Should Doctors Inquire About Military Connections?
HomeFront Strong
Executive Director
Jennifer Baublitz
Must Doctors Ask Families About Military Connections?
We encourage you to explore more resources on military culture and how it impacts healthcare. Elsewhere on this website, we have provided connections to several academic institutions and service organizations that specialize in educating civilian healthcare providers about military culture and its impacts on healthcare. ​
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To read more on the reasons to screen all patients/clients for military service, see our list of Published Articles.​
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For service agencies that provide your organization with in-service training, see our list of Educational/Training Courses.​
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To explore current academic research on veterans and military families, see our list of Research Centers.
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For local and national support agencies, see our list of Veteran & Military Family Service Organizations.
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