The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Depleted Uranium Cohort in the Time of COVID-19

Abstract

Objective In 2021, 37 members of a cohort of depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War I veterans were evaluated using a protocol tailored to accommodate COVID-19 safety practices on a telehealth platform. Methods Individual elements of the legacy protocol were reviewed for urgency and feasibility of inclusion in a modified, telehealth platform. Results The redesigned protocol included a participant readiness for telehealth assessment, nurse and physician telehealth visits, collection of usual health questionnaires, and urine collections for exposure monitoring for uranium and other fragment-related metal measures. Conclusions Despite some limitations in scope, the telehealth platform permitted a visual “visit” with surveillance participants who expressed a high comfort level with the format. The telehealth platform has apparent utility for occupational surveillance and should be explored as a standard approach for surveillance outside of public health emergencies.