Enhancing Care for Veterans Following Toxic Exposure

Military deployments can introduce service members to many health hazards, including toxic exposures. These exposures, from burn pits and harmful agents, can lead to health issues that are challenging for medical providers to diagnose and treat. As healthcare providers learn more about the impacts of toxic exposures, respiratory ailments are emerging as a leading concern for Veterans. In fact, Veterans have a 76% higher incidence rate of lung cancer compared to the general population. Yet lung cancer is just one of the illnesses caused by toxic exposure, underscoring the need for further research, expedited adoption of new innovative screening capabilities, as well as advanced, focused healthcare solutions to effectively address conditions Veterans face.

Over 3.5 million military personnel have encountered toxic particulate matter from burn pits, with countless others affected by hazards such as jet fuel, chemical agents, and radiation. The vast array of these toxic exposures complicates the healthcare landscape, as Veterans may develop conditions that remain poorly understood within conventional medical practices. This complexity often leads to the misdiagnosis of serious conditions like Deployment-Related Respiratory Disease (DRRD) or Constrictive Bronchiolitis (CB) as more common ailments like asthma, bronchitis or pleuritis. Such misdiagnoses not only prevent Veterans from getting the care they need but may also lead to additional complications from receiving the wrong treatment.

The challenge of these conditions often extends beyond identifying them correctly. There's an essential need for standardized histopathologic criteria from lung biopsies for definitive clinical assessments. However, the invasiveness of biopsies, combined with a lack of specialized expertise and the inherent procedural risks, means they are seldom the first choice for diagnosis. When the diagnosis of CB remains uncertain, DRRD becomes a broad category encompassing a range of respiratory issues post-deployment, highlighting the necessity for continuous monitoring to observe disease progression and unearth further nuances of these conditions. Moreover, the symptomatic similarities between DRRD and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as coughing and shortness of breath, further complicate the diagnosis. Despite these shared symptoms, the treatment strategies for each condition vary significantly, underscoring the importance of precise diagnosis. Diligent surveillance aims to enhance physician understanding, fostering progress in how these conditions are classified and managed.

Another hurdle in delivering care to Veterans for toxic exposure conditions is the vast geographic spread of this population across the United States. Nearly a quarter of all Veterans, 4.4 million, return from active military careers to reside in rural communities¹, which can be far from traditional VA healthcare facilities. Furthermore, advanced medical imaging technologies tend to be available at large hospitals or cancer centers, many of which are centered in highly populated urban and suburban areas. There are also concerns about people, including Veterans, in urban centers being able to access healthcare at these institutions due to financial hardship, lack of insurance or distrust of the healthcare system. Enter the role of enterprise imaging.

Pairing innovative new software with advanced imaging technology stands as a crucial, non-invasive tool in this endeavor, enabling healthcare professionals to pinpoint the underlying causes of respiratory conditions accurately anywhere in the country. In addition to technologies available throughout the VA health system and other institutions, the deployment of advanced diagnostic imaging and mobile screening initiatives marks a significant step towards overcoming these barriers, facilitating access to essential care services in these communities.

In 2022, a landmark initiative between Philips and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center deployed a mobile CT lung-cancer screening unit to serve communities that lack access to the preventative care they would receive in hospital settings. Working with clinical partners and local community organizations, these mobile units are positioned directly within neighborhoods to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging². The impact of such initiatives is profound, offering potentially life-saving information to individuals. The collaboration between Philips and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center illustrates the power of collective action. Philips is also a strategic partner of the Veterans Health Administration and, together, we are deploying innovative solutions to facilitate a better patient experience and improve health outcomes through collaborative clinical decision-making.

In addressing the multifaceted challenges of caring for Veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service, a multidisciplinary approach is essential. From understanding the nuanced health issues arising from such exposures to deploying innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies, the collaboration between healthcare providers, government agencies and technology partners plays a pivotal role. By integrating cutting-edge diagnostic imaging tools with comprehensive care models and focusing on early detection and intervention, we are not only acknowledging the sacrifices of our Veterans but actively working towards improving their quality of life.

For more information about Philips’ commitment to delivering patient-centered care for service members and Veterans, please visit https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/government.