Medical Readiness and Brain Injury Recovery at Womack Army Medical Center

Medical training and long-term rehabilitation are essential components of military health. Soldiers run to mannequin casualties during their tactical combat lifesaver recertification course at the Medical Simulation Training Center, in Fort Bragg, N.C. Among the Soldiers participating in this training, members of the 431st Quartermaster Detachment train for the 2014 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise (QLLEX), operationally controlled by the 633rd Quartermaster Battalion here.

The Intrepid Spirit Center: Unlocking Service Members’ Full Potential

Beyond tactical drills, specialized care is provided for cognitive health. In their quest to provide top-notch care to active-duty service members, the Womack Army Medical Center Intrepid Spirit Center on Fort Bragg continuously monitors and improves their services. Recently, the Intrepid Spirit Center held an open house to share the many resources they have for brain injury and recovery.

The CBITE Plus Program

A significant development in patient care is the introduction of new therapeutic frameworks. Their latest addition is the CBITE Plus program, which is an addendum to the Comprehensive Brain Injury Team Evaluation (CBITE) program that has long been a core component of Intrepid services. Developed by Dr. Jillian Ballantyne and Lieutenant Commander Jodi Moore, the CBITE Plus Program is designed to provide additional therapeutic services to service members going through the CBITE program.

According to Commander Katherine Demers, Intrepid Spirit Center Executive Director, “this treatment program uses education to provide understanding, therapies to help treat service members symptoms and employs techniques to rehabilitate the parts of the brain that were injured.” The purpose of CBITE Plus is to help Service Members return to full cognitive and emotional fitness by giving them the taste of an intensive outpatient patient program without requiring that time commitment.

Therapeutic Services and Diagnostics

The flexible schedule of classes addresses the physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges faced by service members on their journey to brain health and recovery following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These classes are offered on the first, second, and third Thursday of each month.

Advanced diagnostic tools play a vital role in this process. For example, a posturography test is useful to detect equilibrium and vestibular issues after concussion and helps the therapist and patient to set goals to return to duty. Additionally, Jeremy Smith, occupational therapist explains how the comprehensive driving evaluation works as part of the recovery resources.

Family and Caregiver Support

Rehabilitation at the center extends to the family unit. The clinic has also re-launched their Caregiver/Partner/ Spousal Support Group led by a Behavioral Health Technician, under the supervision of Dr. Ballantyne. This group will provide accurate information about traumatic brain injury, the course of recovery, and what caregivers can expect along the way. The group meets every first Thursday at 10:30 a.m. to facilitate improved attendance and support.