DOD improves on mental health.

The Department of Defense is making some progress on screening troops for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and on screening for mental health issues before deployment, but there are still many gaps in the system, according to a report released last month by the Government Accountability Office. The GAO reviewed predeployment mental health screening, tracking of postdeployment mental health referrals, and implementation of screening for mild TBI. The agency determined that clinicians have received inconsistent instructions on predeployment screening. During visits to three sites, for instance, investigators found that physicians did not know they were supposed to review medical records as part of the predeployment screen. Tracking of referrals is often hampered by a lack of electronic record keeping, and the fact that National Guard and Reserve troops receive civilian care, said the agency. The military is doing better on TBI screening, said the GAO. Screening questions were added in January to postdeployment assessments, and, starting in July 2008, all troops will be assessed for mild TBI before they go overseas.