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Wounded Warriors: Taking care of our own at Naval Medical Center San Diego

Navy Compass
By Commander, Navy Region Southwest Rear Adm. Len Hering
06.22.07

Of all the things we can do from home to support our fellow service members fighting overseas, maybe the most important is making sure that those who come back receive the care they so richly deserve.

We are extremely proud of the enormous responsibility that we have here in the San Diego area of nursing our wounded warriors back to health and doing whatever we can to help jumpstart their lives.

The folks over at Naval Medical Center San Diego are at the very forefront of that cause.

Last week, the ground-breaking was done for the construction of Balboa's second Fisher House. This is the latest demonstration of the hospital's serious commitment to the treatment of wounded warriors.

The presence of family in the rehabilitation of these men and women is vital to their recovery. Fisher Houses are designed to accommodate 16 to 42 family members of wounded service members.

They provide eight to 21 suites and can range in size from 5,000 to 16,000 square feet and are donated by the Fisher House Foundation.

There are 37 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and eight Veterans Administration medical centers across the United States and in Germany.

Fisher House II," as it will be called, is scheduled to open at NMCSD in September of next year.

The hospital also features the Comprehensive Combat Casualty Care Center, the "C5." The C5 program is designed to take people through successive stages of things such as reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation to a level of functioning, which allows them to return to full active duty service or help them transition successfully to civilian life and employment.

The staff of the C5 center regularly treats such conditions including physical injuries such as amputations and wounds, traumatic brain injuries and emotional difficulties due to combat stresses.

The wonderful rehab staff includes doctors in the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, world class prosthetists who make amazing prosthetic limbs, and additional physical and occupational therapy staff to allow people to learn how to function and adapt.

They also added case managers to help the service members coordinate all of their care that often includes making and attending appointments with several different specialties, on-going rehab and administrative issues - all of which need to be coordinated individually on behalf of the service member.

These managers are instrumental in helping to educate their wounded warriors about their options in continuing their military careers. And if staying on active duty isn't a realistic option for them, the hospital offers some great transition services that assist them in preparing for civilian employment.

The NMCSD staff also realizes the importance sports can play in the rehab process.

The hospital has what's called the Balboa Warrior Athlete Program. Many injured Sailors, Marines and Soldiers enjoyed sports and were great athletes when they went into the service; the hospital realizes that they are still great athletes after their injury.

Balboa provides them with adaptive training so that they can continue to compete. It is a tremendous way for these men and women to gain more self-confidence in going back and doing what they love. Athletics can have a huge effect on their emotional recovery as well.

The amount of time and effort NMCSD puts into its care of wounded warriors is evidence that this important responsibility is not being overlooked by the health providers in this area.

The way in which we take care of those who have sacrificed everything to protect the freedoms of all Americans is absolutely one of our top priorities.

We owe them every last resource we have at our disposal to see to it that they are put in the best possible environment in which to succeed as they go on with their lives.

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