Beckie Kronebusch, Mayo Clinic
Stephen Hunt, VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Kirsten Mains, Veterans Health Administration
Andrea Kossoudji, Veterans Health Administration
Jessica Varghese, NY Institute of Technology
A team of expert panelists will discuss the integration of "exposure-informed care" (EIC) into healthcare systems which is crucial to addressing the health risks posed by environmental toxins. Environmental toxins were recently highlighted by the passage of the 2022 PACT Act and while initially focused on veterans, the principles of EIC are highly applicable to civilian health care, especially in light of increasing environmental degradation and climate-related health threats. Nurses across all settings play a critical role in this model by incorporating exposure histories into patient assessments, care plans, ensuring early intervention, management of care transitions, and providing holistic care. This approach not only enhances the understanding of social and environmental determinants of health but also underscores the vital role nurses have in mitigating long-term health impacts through informed evidence-based care.