MHS MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM E-BULLETIN

Vital Signs

WelcomeGreetings from the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury! I recently returned from Afghanistan and am working as DCoE’s senior executive director for psychological health. Mental Health Month is very important to DCoE, and it’s good to see all of the support efforts for our military members and their loved ones happening across the Military Health System.

It was an honor to be working with the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who are suffering from the ill-effects of war. My staff of 35 was treating almost 2,000 warriors a month in Eastern Afghanistan and was able to successfully return most of them to their units, buddies and the fight.

I am committed to doing what we can to make sure that both the deployed and in-garrison warriors receive all the behavioral health care they need when necessary. In addition, I will continue to spearhead the work of providing all the prevention and resilience-building tools to both warriors and their families. Together as a team this work can be accomplished. We want to work with you.

Lt. Col. Christopher Robinson, USAF, PhD, MPH Senior Executive Director for Psychological Health Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

May Is Mental Health MonthWe live in difficult times. With engagements overseas and difficulties at home, we all feel the stress of life every day. May is Mental Health Month, and the Military Health System wants you to know that you are not alone. For mental health tools and resources inside and outside the MHS available to you and your family visit http://bit.ly/dlhRIJ.

MHS Profiles: Trained to Heal, Inspired to SpeakThis month, we profile a combat medic and two combat nurses whose steadfast strength and determination have aided them on the battlefield, in their recovery at home, and today, as they advocate for others experiencing psychological stress. Read MHS Profiles to learn about their experiences and ongoing efforts at combating the stigma associated with psychological stress. Visit http://bit.agJls5.

ISSUE 14 MAY 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

MHS Vital Signs is distributed monthly to your inbox. To sign up and view the full version, visit us on the web at www.health.mil/vitalsigns.

May 2010 Online Edition:

• May Is Mental Health Month

• Naval Hospital Bremerton Improves Patient Safety

• MHS Profiles: Trained to Heal, Inspired to Speak

• USNS Mercy Sets Sail for Pacific Partnership 2010

• Military Children Prepare Care Packages for the Deployed

• Warrior Care Spotlight: Battling PTSD, Major Shares His Story

• InTransition For All Transitions

• Research Round Up: Better Prosthetics Coming for Wounded Warriors

Subscribe to MHS Vital Signs at ht tp://heal th.mi l/v i t als igns

UPCOMING EVENTS

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) National ConventionJune 30-July 3, Washington

Force Health Protection and Readiness ConferenceAugust 7-13, Phoenix

APA (American Psychological Association) Annual ConventionAugust 12-15, San Diego

RESEARCH ROUND UP USNS Mercy Sets Sail for Pacific Partnership 2010The Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy deployed from San Diego May 1, kicking off Pacific Partnership 2010.

The fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors, Pacific Partnership 2010 is aimed at strengthening regional relationships with host and partner nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Pacific Partnership 2010 will visit six nations during the five-month deployment.

Pacific Partnership 2010’s Mission Commander is Capt. Lisa Franchetti, who will ensure the collaboration and teamwork of the many government and non-governmental agencies who make up the mission this year.

“This deployment offers an incredible opportunity to continue to build the relationships and capabilities that will be essential in responding to a real world disaster in the region,” said Franchetti. Read more at http://bit.ly/b2t8JQ.

Warrior Care: Battling PTSD, Major Shares His StoryRyan Kranc was traveling with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment near Ramadi, Iraq, on July 23, 2003, when his convoy was hit with an improvised explosive device.

Kranc, now an Army major, survived. His commander and friend, Capt. Josh T. Byers, did not.

Six years and two full combat tours later, Kranc committed himself to recovering from the emotional wounds sustained on that day in 2003.

While serving in Saudi Arabia in 2009, he notified his command that he had a problem. Although he had sought counseling before, Kranc decided he needed more intervention. He entered treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for six weeks. Kranc said the traumatic events of the war have forever changed his life, but because of his treatment he can now move forward. Read more at http://bit.ly/bLOmLK.

Research Roundup: Better Prosthetics Coming for Wounded Warriors

From developing a new microprocessor-controlled prosthetic leg to a non-chafing socket device, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at Fort Detrick, Md., is making big strides in advancing prosthetic science to improve wounded warriors’ quality of life.

“The objective is to help amputees and traumatically wounded service members return to the highest level of functionality that they are capable of,” said Troy Turner, who manages the center’s advanced prosthetics and human performance portfolio.

One of the center’s biggest triumphs to date is the X2 microprocessor leg, developed by Otto Bock HealthCare with TATRC funding. The new “C-leg,” being tested by above-the-knee amputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, uses a microprocessor to control the knee’s hydraulic functions. This, in turn, gives the wearer more flexibility to change speeds or directions without sacrificing stability. Read more at http://bit.ly/cfuHsk.

CONTACT US

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