PDH-CPG Desk Reference Toolbox

The Post-Deployment Health (PDH) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) Desk Reference Toolbox is designed to help primary care providers integrate the DoD/VA PDH-CPG into their daily practice. This CPG provides guidelines for working with patients with deployment-related health concerns and conditions. The ultimate goal of the toolbox is to promote a high standard of care to service members.

The toolbox was created by the DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC) in 2004. Updated on an ongoing basis, it is still the only tool available for the PDH-CPG and has been distributed to all military medical treatment facilities in the U.S. and internationally.

Toolbox Elements

Designed to fit easily on a desktop, the toolbox contains provider reference pocket cards that provide information on the PDH-CPG; supporting VA/DoD clinical practice guidelines for medically unexplained symptoms, major depressive disorder and PTSD; specific deployment-related health concerns and the deployment health assessment process. The cards are organized by color and are pocket-sized and laminated for easy reference during patient interaction. The four CDs included in the toolbox feature additional reference and training materials on specific PDH-CPG topics.

The toolbox also contains screening algorithms demonstrating how to work through health problems a service member may present in the clinic. The set of three algorithms is designed to work with any pre- or post-deployment health concern a patient may exhibit. After a patient’s condition is identified, resources on the key elements of PDH patient care are also accessible for practitioners to use. This includes clinic visit guidance and PDH visit coding that can be downloaded directly from the PDH Desk Reference Toolbox website.

New and updated cards are produced as information changes, additional health concerns emerge and associated guidance is developed. The new and updated cards, as well as the entire toolbox contents, are downloadable online. Content updates are designed to be attached to the blank cards inside the toolbox or attached to new index cards. Practitioners are encouraged to bookmark the above site for easy access to the various tools and resources.

Providers will also find information on PDH-CPG implementation, including policies, forms, health assessment tools, fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations. Presentations and briefings include topics such as PDH Care in the Primary Care Setting, the Role of Deployment-Related CPGs in Primary Care and implementing the PDH-CPG Across the Deployment Cycle. In conjunction with these items, brochures containing “how-to” information for clinicians treating post-deployment health and for patients outlining the PDH-CPG’s commitment to treatment are both available for download and placement in a medical facility. Providers can also download training videos on the PDH-CPG and several deployment-related health concerns. All resources can be found on the DHCC's PDH-CPG Implementation page.¹

How to Order a Toolbox

To obtain the most up-to-date toolbox information, DHCC recommends obtaining the information directly from its website. If you have questions about ordering a toolbox, contact the DHCC Clinical Helpline at 866-559-1627 and ask for a member of the Staff Training Assistance Team, or contact them by e-mail at pdhealth@amedd.army.mil.²

Additional Resources

• RESPECT.Mil program for screening, assessing and treating active duty service members with PTSD and/or depression in a primary care setting.

Sources

¹"PDH -CPG Desk Reference Toolbox," Deployment Health Clinical Center. Last accessed Oct. 17, 2012.
²"PDH-CPG Desk Reference Toolbox Ordering Information," [DOC 60KB] Deployment Health Clinical Center. Last accessed Oct. 17, 2012.