Public Health
Conference helps Environmental Health Clinicians and Coordinators excel in their roles
Approximately 150 Environmental Health Clinicians and Coordinators from across the country attended the “Environmental Health Clinician and Coordinator Conference” in St Louis, MO, on July 10-12, 2018. Environmental Health Clinicians and Coordinators run the environmental health registries in conjunction with VA’s Post Deployment Health Services.
VA offers several environmental health registries, including the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry and the Gulf War Registry, for Veterans of the recent conflicts. A free registry exam is available for participants in a registry. These registry exams can help Veterans understand the connection between their exposures during military service and possible health problems. The registry also allows VA to follow health trends, plan research studies, and notify Veterans of any new findings. Veterans may be eligible for more than one registry.
The “Environmental Health Clinician and Coordinator Conference” helped clinicians and coordinators have a full understanding of the issues important to environmental health and Veterans’ health. Conference speakers discussed the functions of clinicians and coordinators, reviewed emerging issues regarding different types of environmental exposures, and described legislative and policy requirements. VA plans to hold this conference once a year to help ensure that registry program practices are standardized across all VA medical centers.
To learn more about participating in a VA environmental health registry, contact an Environmental Health Coordinator near you. You can also check your eligibility and join the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry online.
