Adequacy of the VA Persian Gulf Registry and Uniform Case Assessment Protocol

As mandated in Public Law 103-446, the Department of Veterns Affairs (VA) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review its Uniform Case Assessment Protocol (UCAP) for Persian Gulf veterans. The purpose of the program is to provide a systematic, comprehensive medical protocol for the diagnosis of health problems of Persian Gulf veterans. This report is the third in a series of studies by IOM reviewing the protocols used by the VA and the Department of Defense to diagnose the health complaints of Gulf veterans. The committee reviews and makes recommendations concerning the adequacy of the medical protocol and its implementation by the VA, as well as the VA's outreach and education efforts aimed at informing Persian Gulf veterans and their care providers of the purpose and availability of this program. In addition, the report contains as appendixes the findings and recommendations of the previous reports, as well as those of two related IOM reports on Health Consequences of Service During the Persian Gulf War.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Institute of Medicine's Persian Gulf Activities
The Dapartment of Veterans Affairs Persian Gulf Registry and Uniform Cse Assessment Protocol
Committee on the Evaluation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Uniform Case Assessment Protocol
Findings and Recommendations
Conclusion
References and Selected Bibliography
Appendix A: Health Consequences of Service During the Persian Gulf War: Initial Findings and Recommendations for Immediate Action
Appendix B: Health Consequences of Service During the Persian Gulf War: Recommendations for Research and Information Systems
Appendix C: Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Defense Persian Gulf Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program: Overall Assessment and Recommendations
Appendix D: Adequacy of the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program: Nerve Agents
Appendix E: Adequacy of the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program: A Focused Assessment
Appendix F: VA Phase I Protocol
Appendix G: VA Phase II Protocol
Appendix H: Persian Gulf Registry Code Sheet
Appendix I: VA Persian Gulf Bi-Monthly Report
Appendix J: Examples of Persian Gulf Registry Follow-Up Letters
Appendix K: VA Monitoring Instrument for Appropriate Medical Care
Appendix L: Annual Persian Gulf Conference Agenda
Appendix M: Site Visit Questions
Appendix N: Summary of Responses to Requests for Information
Appendix O: Questions Related to Traumatic Exposure
Appendix P: Patient Satisfaction