Reed official touts new medical care units

Reed official touts new medical care units
By Kristin M. Hall - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Nov 9, 2007 22:23:49 EST

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The deputy commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center said Thursday that wounded soldiers are healing faster and returning to duty quicker in new specialized medical care units.

Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker visited a warrior transition unit at Fort Campbell and toured new barracks designed for injured soldiers. Some of the rooms are designed for soldiers in wheelchairs with lowered sinks and beds and larger showers.

Tucker, who has just been appointed assistant surgeon general for warrior care transition, said the Army has 10,000 soldiers who can’t deploy because of medical issues.

The Pentagon created the units after problems were discovered at Walter Reed. Each soldier in the unit is assigned a primary care manager, a case manager and a squad leader. However, a Government Accountability Office report last month found that more than half of the 35 new medical units were not fully staffed.

Tucker said the Army is still working to staff those units and expects to have data early next year to prove the units are providing quicker medical care.

“Our length of stay in a is 180 days,” said Tucker, noting that units are averaging a 79 percent return to duty. “That is starting to draw back, which means I’m achieving efficiency.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_walterreed_071109/