DoD, VA Coordinate on Patient Care

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DoD, VA Coordinate on Patient Care
Air Force Print News | November 01, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have partnered to put in place 10 federal recovery coordinators charged with managing the care of severely injured servicemembers and their families for as long as a lifetime.

Officials from the two departments signed an agreement Oct. 31 outlining the role of the coordinators. These are the first positions of their kind in the military health care system and were put into place in response to recommendations from servicemembers, families and by the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.

"This agreement will help ensure our nation's wounded warriors and their families receive the care they need and deserve at the right time, right place and by the right person across the continuum from recovery through to their reintegration into their communities," said Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

VA officials will hire the coordinators and hope to have them on board by January. They will be assigned to either Walter Reed Army Medical Center here; the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; or Naval Medical Center San Diego.

The coordinators are charged with managing all the needs of severely injured servicemembers and their families as the troops move through the recovery and rehabilitation process and return to their communities.

The coordinators will work with only the most seriously injured servicemembers, including those with major amputations, burns, severe traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, spinal cord injury, severe sight or hearing loss or severe multiple injuries.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,155327,00.html