Officials to break ground on new TBI center

[unhappycamper]

Officials to break ground on new TBI center
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 4, 2008 5:52:22 EDT

Military officials will break ground on the new privately-funded National Intrepid Center of Excellence for traumatic brain injuries and psychological health issues Thursday in Bethesda, Md.

The new center, expected to cost $75 million, will provide outpatient evaluation, initial treatment plans and long-term follow-up for service members who suffer a traumatic brain injury.

The center also will feature advanced diagnostics that can help doctors determine if a service member has a mild traumatic brain injury.

Officials estimate that as many as 150,000 troops have suffered a mild traumatic brain injury — or concussion. In 70 percent of those cases, symptoms such as blurry vision and headaches go away on their own. Some symptoms last for a few weeks or months, but about 10 percent of people with mild traumatic brain injuries may have long-term symptoms. Those symptoms can include short-term memory loss, stuttering, sensitivity to noise, tunnel vision, problems with math, slow reaction times and seizures.

Mild injuries often can’t be seen on a CT scan. Moderate to severe injuries are usually easier to diagnose because service members will have a cracked skull or visible bleeding in the brain.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_tbi_center_060308w/



uhc comment: Five years of war and occupation and you outsourced a TBI center? I really can't wait for 1.20.2009.