VA, DOD officials expand ranks of federal recovery coordinators Published Jan. 15, 2010 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the hiring of five new federal recovery coordinators, bringing to 20 the number of professionals coordinating care for the most seriously injured servicemembers. "Our federal recovery coordinators are key members of a team of health care professionals, therapists, case managers and other specialists, who make up VA's comprehensive care management system for returning servicemembers and their families," Secretary Shinseki said. The new coordinators will be added to the following locations, with the total number of coordinators in each location indicated in parenthesis: * Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Ga. (3); * San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas, (4); * Naval Medical Center - San Diego, Calif. (4); * Tampa VA Medical Center, Fla. (1); * Bethesda NMC, Md. (3); * Walter Reed AMC, D.C. (3); * Houston VAMC, Texas, (1); and * Providence VAMC, R.I. (1). The FRC program was created in 2007 to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families with access to care, services and benefits provided by the VA, DOD, other federal agencies, states and the private sector. Currently, the coordinators work with 419 of the most seriously injured servicemembers and veterans. The program is administered by VA specialists and operated jointly with DOD. The program's clients include servicemembers and veterans who are receiving acute care at military treatment facilities, diagnosed with specific injuries or conditions, considered at risk for psychological complication or likely to benefit from a recovery plan.