Thursday, July 29, 2010

Military New Policy on Mild TBI, Concussion

New policies on mTBI/concussion management
Written by LTG Eric B. Schoomaker, U.S. Army Surgeon General on 23-Jul-2010

In his message to commanders throughout the force to reinforce new policies designed to minimize the effects of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) GEN George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army said, We are completing our ninth year at war, and our force is stretched by the cumulative effects of the last nine years. Effectively managing our fighters is essential to our long-term success in this war. That is what this program is about.

These new policies require a medical exam and 24 hours of downtime for any Soldier who sustains a direct blow to the head or witnessed loss of consciousness, or is within 50 meters of a blast (inside or outside), or is in a vehicle associated with a blast event, collision, or rollover, or is dismounted within 50 meters of a blast, or is in a building or vehicle damaged by a blast/accident. Any Soldier who receives three concussions during 12 months must have a comprehensive medical evaluation.

Research shows that concussions are overwhelmingly treatable. Receiving prompt care, regardless of the severity of injury, is the key to regaining the highest functional level possible.

We must identify mTBI from the outset to be synonymous with concussion. The more often you can use these two terms together, the more we can drive home the point that ANY form of concussion needs to be treated in this fashion. Explosions on the battlefield often cause these injuries, but they also can occur through falls, sports injuries, auto accidents or any other event resulting in a blow to the head.


I want to thank Army leadership for their support of Army Medicine. It is everyone’s responsibility to understand and enforce these mTBI/concussion policies.

The full details of this program are in ALARACT 193/2010 -HQDA EXORD 253-10, Management of Concussions/Mild Traumatic Brain injury (mTBI) in the Deployed Setting, DTG 260416Z Jun 10 (https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/55028) on AKO.

Govt. Accounting Office to Investigate Sterilization Problems at St. Louis-VA

Full Article at: GAO to investigate sterilization problems at St. Louis VA hospital
AP

ST. LOUIS -- The investigative arm of Congress is now looking into the improper sterilization of dental equipment at the St. Louis VA Medical Center.

KMOX Radio reports that the Government Accountability Office is including the case in its investigation of similar incidents at other Veterans' Administration medical centers across the country.

The VA announced in June that 1,812 veterans may face a slight risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C because of inadequate sterilization in the dental clinic in the St. Louis facility.

The VA has not given a recent update on how many veterans have been tested and how many have tested positive for any of the diseases."

VA Probing the Handling of Soldier Death Benefits

VA to Probe Insurer Handling Soldiers’ Benefits

"The
practice of issuing checkbooks to survivors, instead of paying lump sums
, extends beyond the military. Over the last decade, these so-called retained-asset accounts have become standard operating procedure in the insurance industry."

"The
checkbook system cheats the families of the deceased
, says Jeffrey Stempel, an insurance law professor at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“It’s institutionalized bad faith,” he said. “In my view, this is a scheme to defraud by inducing the policyholder’s beneficiary to let the life insurance company retain assets they’re not entitled to. It’s turning death claims into a profit center.” "

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating life insurance companies’ practice of putting veterans’ death benefits in corporate accounts and keeping most of the investment profits instead of paying the survivors.
Mike Walcoff, acting undersecretary for the agency’s Veterans Benefit Administration, said yesterday in a statement announcing the investigation that it would be “completely unacceptable” for insurers to profit from such practices
.

VA Fiduciary, Ellen Pack, Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating Funds

Full Article at: Stratford woman guilty of pilfering veteran's benefits

Written by John Kovach
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 14:57

"A 64-year-old Stratford woman pleaded guilty July 27 to one count of misappropriating U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits while acting as a fiduciary for an incompetent military veteran.

Ellen Pack of Broadbridge Road, waived indictment before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons.

Pack, according to court documents, was fiduciary for a military veteran who was a patient in the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital in 2006 and 2007. She received money from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that were to be used solely for the veteran’s care and benefit, and used more than $30,000 for her own purchases and expenses.

Pack faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000 when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on Oct. 15, according to David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut."