United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Academic Affiliations

Fact Sheet

What is the Military Health History Pocket Card? 

Pocket Card Image. Click the image to read the text that is on the card. 

The Military Health History Pocket Card is a pocket-sized resource to provide all VA health professions trainees a guide to understanding health issues that are unique to veterans.

VA's students and trainees generally are young while our veteran patients are older and have had experiences in a different time and place. This card helps to bridge that gap.

 The card suggests questions that invite the veteran to tell his/her own story while the web site provides information that will offer greater insight into the veteran's story.

It is important to make the patient aware that his/her unique experiences as a veteran are of concern to VA clinicians.

Who should receive the Military Health History Pocket Card? Photo of Trainees with Patient
All health professions trainees.

How is the Military Health History website used?
It provides background information related to the questions on the Pocket Card. Summaries of veterans' health issues as well as links to other web sites are provided.

The Card can be used to capitalize on many learning opportunities:

  • Give trainees better understanding of the veteran's perspective.       
  • Encourage trainees and staff to take more careful, veteran-centered histories.
  • Stimulate case discussions augmented by information found on the web site.
  • Consider discussing issues presented on the card during daily work rounds or informal case-based conferences.
Pocket Card Resources

Adobe Acrobat document Printable Version Print color version on your local printer (3Mb)

Text version Read text of pocket card