Printer Friendly Page
---------------
DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE
July 19, 2007
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Symposium on Traumatic Brain
Injury
Roundtable Discussion Addresses the Signature
Injury of the War in Iraq
On Wednesday, with both Democratic and Republican Members of the House
Veterans’ Affairs Committee in attendance, Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA)
led a symposium to address innovative and comprehensive ways to provide
treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is considered the
signature injury of the war in Iraq. Among veterans and service members
from Iraq and Afghanistan treated at Walter Reed for injuries of any
type, approximately 65% have TBI as a primary diagnosis or simultaneous
injury.
“This symposium is intended to open up the broader thought process of
how to make certain that we have the capacity, the capability, and the
expertise to meet the readjustment and rehabilitation needs of these
veterans both short and long term,” said Chairman Filner. “Taking care
of the wounded is an obligation we owe to those who have sacrificed so
much for our country and that is why I am conducting this symposium
today.”
Participants in the TBI Symposium included: Dave Woodruff and Rene
Bardorf from the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury;
Dr. Ross D. Zafonte from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine;
Dr. Ronald M. Ruff of the National Academy of Neuropsychology; Dr. Jim
C. Schraa from the Brain Injury Association of America; Dr. Henry Lew
from Stanford University Medical Center; Dr. Orest B. Boyko and Dr.
Jeffrey Eliot Galpin of Brain Matters, Inc.; Meredith Beck of the
Wounded Warriors Project; Dr. Richard Hodder from the Northeast Center
for Special Care; Dr. Joseph J. Fins of Weill Medical College of Cornell
University; Peter J. Bunce, a family member of a TBI veteran; Dr. Holger
Weis of NovaVision, Inc.; and Dr. Barbara Sigford from the Minneapolis
VA Medical Center.
Participants discussed the need for a coordinated effort for case
management for TBI patients, not just during the initial injury phase,
but throughout the life of the patient. Also noted was the importance of
educating and training family members on what to expect from their TBI
patient.
The Chairman referred to legislation passed by the House of
Representatives that would direct the VA to improve and expand its
ability to provide TBI care, services and research. H.R. 2199
establishes an innovative program to deliver health care services to
rural veterans and establishes and Advisory Committee to assist the VA
in improving care and services for rural veterans. The bill will next be
heard in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
“TBI is a devastating injury and impacts not only the lives of the
service members but also the lives of their family members,” said
Chairman Filner. “There exists a real need to educate and train family
members as well as assist them through the process of adjusting to the
circumstances they now face. Today’s discussion brought together experts
with a range of different experiences to identify the specific issues
facing our veterans. This forum is intended to bring about productive
problem solving tactics and I am pleased that Members of both parties
were able to participate.”
---------------
Larry Scott
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
