In Bethesda Military Hospital, Chaplain is Part of Collaborative Treatment Team

The chaplain angle is a small part of this story from the US DOD regarding collaborative treatment of wounded warriors, but it does point to the important role my colleagues play in this and other hospitals such as Landstuhl, Germany. MP+

Collaboration Improves Treatment of Unseen Scars of War
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 23, 2010 – Several times every week, a team of about 50 specialists gathers around a conference table at the National Naval Medical Center here to assess the progress of every wounded warrior undergoing treatment at the hospital.

They bring an array of expertise to the discussion, with specialties in everything from trauma surgery to pain management and physical and occupational therapy. Joining them at the table are social workers, case managers, a chaplain and military service liaisons.

And, even if there’s no immediate indication of a brain injury or post-traumatic stress, members of a new psychological health and traumatic brain injury team participate fully in talks about treatments being administered, medications prescribed and results seen.

Read the whole piece here.