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Capt. Thomas Johnson, director, Intrepid Spirit Concussion Recovery Clinic at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, appeared before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel to provide an assessment of Navy Medicine post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical and research programs.
His testimony emphasized the importance of these programs for Navy and Marine Corps warfighters.
“TBI has been described as the signature injury of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2000, more than 360,000 service members have been diagnosed with a TBI,” said Johnson.
Johnson defined TBI as a force applied to the head that temporarily or permanently disrupts brain function, differentiating between the varying types of TBI.
“Approximately 20 percent of TBIs are classified as moderate to severe. The remaining 80 percent are classified as mild TBIs, otherwise known as concussions,” he said.
He explained the subtle changes in memory, sleep and balance associated with mild TBI, which is difficult to diagnose with current technology. He also explained that symptoms may be so subtle a service member might not realize something is wrong.
“These warfighters have no visible sign of their injury, but are often struggling to function at work, home, and in the community. Many times they are able to carry on from one deployment to the next, frequently minimizing injuries and occasionally self-medicating to get by − existing, but not really living life to the fullest,” he said.
As a result, Navy Medicine developed a comprehensive TBI recovery program at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in 2011. With a mission to treat the physical, emotional and spiritual injuries associated with TBI, the 12-week program encompasses diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
“To date, we have treated over 2,300 service members stationed at or near Camp Lejeune and greater than 90 percent who complete the program return to full duty from the standpoint of their TBI, although some may be medically retired for other reasons,” Johnson said.
Johnson attributed the program’s success to the colocation of treatment team members, which enables them to better share information with their colleagues and address issues in a collaborative environment. He also emphasized the center’s research contributions towards better TBI detection and prevention.
Despite the program’s success, Johnson continues to see a demand for services and research to improve the quality of life for service members who are diagnosed with TBI.
“We are encouraged, but not satisfied with the progress we have made in the care of service members who have sustained a TBI at Intrepid Spirit through the use of a holistic, integrated, interdisciplinary treatment model that is tailored to meet the needs of warfighters and their families,” said Johnson.
“Every day, as we work with service members who have sustained a TBI, we are reminded of the urgency and the importance of our mission.” he said.
Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 personnel that provide health care support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, their families and veterans in high operational tempo environments, at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.
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| Date Taken: | 04.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2017 14:02 |
| Story ID: | 231946 |
| Location: | DC, US |
| Hometown: | MONTANA CITY, MT, US |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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