Western Massachusetts Veterans Outreach Project

The main point of our Just Ask Campaign, also known as Ask The Question, is that many civilian healthcare professionals do not have adequate curiosity or competency in regard to military culture and combat experiences. While we advocate cultural competency, we understand there is much to learn, so we encourage cultural responsiveness as the first step. Being curious and responsive will lead to a better understanding of military-related health conditions.

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Tailoring clinical practices based on appreciation and understanding is imperative for clinicians working with patients/clients who have military connections because general symptoms will likely have causes rooted in military life. Just as any individual receiving care, veterans and their family members should feel understood and respected as they have their problems readily identified and addressed in an effective, safe, and timely manner.

Understanding the influence of military culture on health-related behaviors will help the civilian provider appropriately plan treatment to help the service member or veteran reach their personal, career, and military mission priorities. WMVOP supports the Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals online course, which is available for free from the Center for Deployment Psychology headquartered at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Completion of the online course includes CE credits.

The following videos created by the National Center for Wellness and Recovery summarize military culture, its key impacts on healthcare, and why screening all patients for any connections to military service can make a significant difference in the patient's treatment outcomes. ​​​