Postdeployment health reassessment: A sustainable method for brigade combat teams

Abstract

Objective: The Postdeployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) was mandated in 2006 and the 3rd Infantry Division was the first unit to perform a large-scale implementation. This article outlines a reproducible model for conducting PDHRA using only existing resources. Methods: The PDHRA (DD 2900) screening and referral processes are reviewed and data on positive screens are reported. Results: Of the 12,817 soldiers who participated in the mass screening, 1,460 (11.4%) were referred for behavioral health, 815 (6.4%) for primary care, 71 (0.01%) for specialty services, and 9 (0.001%) for emergency services. Consult requests were higher in maneuver brigades than in support units (12.1% versus 8.6% for behavioral health and 6.9% versus 4.4% for primary care referrals). All (1,460, 100%) of the behavioral health consults were completed onsite and the unit incurred no additional financial cost in conducting this process. Conclusions: This method for performing a large-scale implementation of the PDHRA provides a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective process that could be implemented at the brigade combat team level without difficulty and in most locations without significant impact on other medical demands. Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2007.