VA's role in treatment changes with growing number of injured troops

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published November 04, 2007

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The large number of U.S. troops who need care for multiple combat wounds, including head injuries, has led the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to take a larger role in treating active-duty service members.

Traditionally, the military's medical system —­ at places such as Madigan Army Medical Center — is responsible for wounded active-duty soldiers, as well as Reserve and National Guard members hurt while mobilized.

The VA treats service members when they leave the military and part-time soldiers when they complete mobilization.

The VA also has specialized in those with spinal cord injuries, said Jay Uomoto, who directs the Center for Polytrauma Care for the VA's Puget Sound health care system.

"Aside from that, you wouldn't see a lot of active-duty members in the VA," he said.

But the role of the Seattle and other VA hospitals changed in 2005 because of the many service members who have suffered multiple injuries from enemy explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and who need specialists to meet their long-term rehabilitative needs.

The change was the result of a partnership between the VA and the Defense Department. The thrust is a national network of polytrauma centers, where the wounded get intensive inpatient and outpatient care and rehabilitation.

The VA has expanded the mission of its four polytrauma centers in recent years. A fifth center has been announced for San Antonio.

Once a soldier is stabilized, or in cases of less severe injuries, the patient comes to one of 17 "polytrauma network sites," including one at the VA in Seattle. There, a team of specialists can continue care and ensure that soldiers are "plugged into" other services they might need, Uomoto said.

The Seattle facility coordinates care for wounded service members in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It has looked after almost 200 patients since April, including more than 50 now. About 40 percent are active-duty, largely sent from Madigan, Uomoto said. The rest are veterans.

Bill Campbell, a 46-year-old Shelton resident and former sergeant in the Washington Army National Guard, is one of the patients. He volunteered to serve in Iraq with the 81st Brigade Combat Team.