The DHCC has two on-site treatment programs, called the Specialized Care Program (SCP) Track I and Track II, that are available for service members with post-deployment health concerns.
The Track I Program is for service members who are primarily experiencing post-deployment physical symptoms which persist in spite of appropriate medical treatment. Such patients have been managed according to the DoD/VA Post-Deployment Health Clinical Practice Guideline.
The Track II Program is for service members who are experiencing difficulties re-adjusting to civilian/garrison life due to traumas experienced during recent deployments. These service members should have been managed according to the DoD/VA PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline or, possibly, the DoD/VA Depression and/or Substance Use Disorders Clinical Practice Guidelines.
The SCP is available for patients whose problems persist in spite of best practices as described within existing DoD/VA clinical practice guidelines. To refer a patient to the DHCC SCP, the treating physician, or physician-designated other provider, should fax or email a summary of the case to DHCC.
Fax: (202) 782-3539 Attn: SCP or
Email: karen.friedman@amedd.army.mil
The summary should include a statement of the symptoms, treatments attempted, and present situation. It should include contact information for the referring party AND for the patient. The DHCC clinical team will discuss the referral and either request more information, bring the patient to DHCC for an on-site evaluation, accept the patient for entrance into the program or contact the referring party and explain why the patient is deemed inappropriate for the program.
The matrix below summarizes inclusion criteria detailed in the appropriate guideline. The SCP is a three week, outpatient day program and referred patients must be capable of independent self care. Although located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, it is NOT an inpatient program and therefore suicidal or violent patients or others in need of inpatient treatment would not be appropriate referrals. Patients with active substance abuse problems or other conditions that limit cognitive competency will be likely deemed unable to benefit from the program.
| |
Track I |
Track II |
| Symptoms |
Primarily medical |
Primarily non-medical |
| Likely Diagnosis |
Medically unexplained physical symptoms, e.g. fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome |
PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder |
| Treatment Model |
Rehabilitation |
Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
