WWP Proposes Amputee Care Centers

The Wounded Warrior Project has called upon Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create six regionalized "Amputee Centers of Excellence" within the VA healthcare system.

The group said these centers would be fully responsible for the system-wide coordination of all physical, occupational therapy, and prosthetic care provided to the new generation of severely wounded service men and women. They also would serve those who suffered amputations in other wars or conflicts and those whose limb losses were the result of a non-service disability. Additionally, the suggested centers would house and drive much of the prosthetic and amputee related research and development projects conducted by VA.

"It is our hope, that the implementation of the 'Amputee Centers of Excellence' initiative, along with other Wounded Warrior Project programs and the current good work being done by the VA, will assist our severely wounded in overcoming the new physical challenges they face and improve the nationwide physical, occupational therapy, and prosthetics system for the all those in need of such care," commented Jeremy Chwat, policy director of the Wounded Warrior Project.

The group feels that over the past 20 years the VA prosthetic program has become more convalescent-focused, specializing in the delivery of geriatric equipment and supplies to an aging patient population. Conversely, thousands have been severely injured in the current global war on terror, causing a new generation of young amputees looking to the VA for their long-term health care and prosthetic and assistive devices needs.

"These newly injured service members were in prime physical condition prior to suffering their injuries and are counting on the system to assist them in re-achieving that physical conditioning through the provision of topnotch physical and occupational therapy and the availability of the full range of prosthetic equipment and devices," said John Melia, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project.

Wounded Warrior Project believes these new centers can be created using existing VA infrastructure with the realignment of certain facilities. The organization said that startup funding between $15 million and $20 million would be utilized for minor construction projects, establishment of gait labs, new equipment, recruitment, new salary dollars, continuing education, and travel dollars for staffand potential patients.

For more information visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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WWP Proposes Amputee Care Centers

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