Amarillo VA Reaches Milestone, 20,000 Completed Toxic Exposure Screenings

“This milestone clearly illustrates our healthcare team's dedication to providing timely, efficient, ethical, safe, compassionate, and quality health care to Veterans,” said Dr. Rodney Gonzalez, Director of AVAHCS. “The PACT Act has helped us build a stronger health care team with a more skilled workforce to meet the growing demand for benefits and services.”

The PACT Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022, and expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps the VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve. As of March 5, 2024, VA expanded health care to millions of Veterans, years earlier than called for by the PACT Act.

Due to the size of this expansion, AVAHCS created a team of healthcare providers to ensure the program’s success, with Bryan McCann as the AVAHCS toxic exposure team lead.

“We quickly adapted to the new program and learned to focus our energy on taking care of our Veterans and work toward completion of our goals within the program,” said McCann. “We want every enrolled Veteran to have a completed toxic exposure screening and clear line of communication with their primary care provider.”

Recently, over 75% of the AVAHCS Veteran population has been screened, allowing AVAHCS healthcare teams to consider each Veteran’s specific health requirements to include medical conditions considered for presumptive status under the PACT Act. Veterans who are not enrolled, but who are eligible to enroll, have an opportunity to enroll and receive a quick 5–10 minute screening to identify any potential exposures to toxins during their military service and connect them to additional resources if they have any concerns.

“Not only is it our goal to screen every one of our Veterans, but in five years we are going to screen them again to ensure no new health concerns or symptoms have developed,” said McCann. “As the registry grows and our knowledge on exposures, conditions, and symptoms expands, we become better as an organization, benefiting not only Veterans but our staff, allowing us to improve what we do.”

According to McCann, toxic exposure screening is something that Veterans had been asking for before the PACT Act was signed into law.

“The occupational environmental exposures they have had is one of the factors that make our Veteran population unique,” stated McCann. “This expansion ensures more people qualify for health services and makes it easier for a provider to endorse an exposure and get them the care they need.”

The toxic exposure screening team doesn’t just provide a benefit for Veterans but has become a force multiplier for the entire healthcare team.

“The team assists both Veterans and their providers by providing the ease of use, continuity, and maturity needed within the program,” explained McCann. “We ensure the program continues to be meaningful, holistic, and has a solid infrastructure to effectively connect Veterans with much needed resources.”

Because of the team’s success, the relationship between Veterans and the Amarillo VA healthcare team has grown more positive, creating communities within the VA with a solid foundation in effective care, support, and whole health.

“We want our Veteran's lives to be easier, to have their experiences acknowledged, and provide as much care for them as possible,” said Dr. Gonzalez.

All Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive a toxic exposure screening at an upcoming appointment or sooner by contacting a Toxic Exposure Screening Navigator. All enrolled Veterans should receive the screening at least once every five years. Depending on your response, you may be connected to support and resources, including a review by your primary care team. Veterans can visit this link for more information: www.va.gov/PACT.