VA secretary addresses traumatic brain injury conference

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Recognizing the longstanding, integrated collaboration shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki gave the keynote address at the fourth annual Traumatic Brain Injury Military Training Conference Aug. 30 here.

"We -- DOD and VA -- simply cannot afford to be less than aggressive in our effort to identify, treat and rehabilitate TBI victims," Secretary Shinseki told the approximately 1,000 military, VA and civilian health care workers at the conference.

The DVBIC was established by Congress in 1992. DOD and VA officials together offer clinical care, research and education on traumatic brain injury. 

In praise of the collaborative DVBIC model, Secretary Shinseki said it should be replicated for all servicemembers transitioning to VA care and not just for TBI or burn care.

"When it comes to DOD's patients, there is a network of information and hands-on human care that helps a wounded warrior transition from one system to the other -- from the battlefield to our polytrauma centers," Secretary Shinseki said.

DVBIC and VA officials have shared and collaborated on many initiatives, including developing and implementing:

-- Joint DOD and VA clinical practice guidelines for TBI

-- Materials and information for families and caregivers of
veterans with TBI

-- Integrated education and training curriculum, and joint
training on TBI of VA and DOD heath care providers

-- A Congressionally-mandated 5-year pilot program to assess the
effectiveness of providing assisted-living services to veterans with TBI

-- The TBI screening tool used for all veterans who served in
Iraq or Afghanistan and are receiving care within VA

-- A specialized emerging consciousness care program at the four
polytrauma centers to serve those veterans with severe TBI who are also slow to recover consciousness.

(Courtesy of Department of Veterans Affairs News Service)