First validated TBI clinic vital to service members

Brig. Gen. Bryan Gamble Commanding General DDEAMC In July Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center's Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic was presented with their official validation plaque resulting from an inspection by staff from the Proponency Office for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in February..

The inspection and resulting plaque presentation represents full validation to the DDEAMC TBI Clinic, making it the first Category I, fully validated Clinic in the US Army.

The focus of the TBI Clinic is to provide medical evaluation and treatment to assist a TBI patient in becoming as independent as possible. Individual medical issues can be complex involving cognition (thinking) skills, attention, judgment, impulsivity, visual changes, decreased balance, behavior issues, and movement disorders, to include tremors and spasticity.

Traumatic brain injury can affect the whole Family as well as that patient's ability to return to work, and social events.

Another milestone for DDEAMC and the TBI Clinic is the first Functional Recovery Program graduation.

The Functional Recovery Program is a three week rehabilitation program where Soldiers learn how to cope with the changes that have occurred due to their injury.

"This is addressed through a multidisciplinary approach consisting of recreational therapy, occupational therapy, drug and alcohol counseling, headache management, time management, spirituality classes, couples therapy, mind body practices, and pain management," advised a representative of The Office of the Army Surgeon General.

The TBI Clinic has been holding FRP cycles since early 2009, with a maximum of eight Soldiers per cycle. During the cycle there is a three day window where the spouses are invited to attend a Family (group) counseling session led by the social worker.

The counseling session provides information to the Soldier and Family member on how to better deal with changes that have occurred as a result of the TBI.

Following completion of the program, a recent graduate who had been going to the clinic for breathing exercises stated that the breathing treatment was extremely beneficial and vital to everyday tasks and living.

Another graduate who has been receiving treatment in the TBI Clinic since March stated they were leaving for Fort Campbell, Ky., and sad to say good-bye to friends at the TBI Clinic.

The FRP is continuing to reach TBI affected Soldiers and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Soldiers and their Families.