New Health Assessment Now Available for Deploying Service Members

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) announced today the introduction of a new version of the electronic Deployment Health Assessment (eDHA).

This latest version, made available to the Fleet Jan. 1, 2013, is an upgrade to the previous version originally launched in 2008 that initially required seven separate assessments.

The most significant change to the series of assessments was the integration of the Congressionally-mandated mental health assessment into the Pre-Deployment Health Assessment and Post-Deployment Health Reassessment. Now, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will be able to complete two assessments instead of the four that were required to complete the original eDHA.

The new format focuses on the signature conditions of OIF/OEF - alcohol abuse, depression, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and offers the opportunity for the member to discuss his or her health concerns with a medical professional during the face-to-face review.

"This was a technological challenge," said Mr. Azad Al-Koshnaw, NMCPHC Lead Developer of the eDHA application. "Providing a seamless tool that comfortably collects sensitive health information and facilitates the member-provider meeting was the goal of this version."

According to Ms. Tina Luse, NMCPHC Lead Epidemiologist for Deployment Health, the new format is a value-added resource to military leadership for helping assess Fleet and Force readiness.

"Deployment health assessments are a valuable tool for all concerned. By spacing the assessments out over the entire deployment cycle, the members have several opportunities to discuss their health with their medical providers," said Luse. "Some of these conditions have a delayed mental or physical response and could be missed if the assessments were done just once or too early."

Currently, eDHA is fully implemented and is available for Department of Defense (DOD) active and reserve components. Because the tool is web-based, many units complete the assessment while still in theater. The Air Force has completed implementation while the Army is scheduled to be implemented by March 2013.

"With all services using the same assessments, our service members can get their deployment health assessments done in any military treatment facility around the world, including in theater," said Capt. Michael Macinski, NMCPHC Commanding Officer. "The addition of the enhanced mental health questions will provide a good measure of the effects of the conflict on resilience and readiness."

Medical and Line leaders across the Department of Defense (DOD) have offered high-praise for the health status reports that are derived from these deployment health assessments.

"Our monthly Force Health reports provide senior Marine Corps leadership a snapshot of the health and concerns of the Force, enabling us to focus on risk reduction and prevention strategies that improve the health and well-being of our Marines." Said Capt. William Padgett, Director of Preventive Medicine, Health Services, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.

NMCPHC is part of the Navy Medicine team, a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high-quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcphc/.