10th Medical Regiment Assists Returning Maryland National Guard Soldiers
By LTC (ARNG) Howard Bond and COL (MD) H. Wayne Nelson
BALTIMORE (August 1, 2007) - The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) continues to address new opportunities to support to the soldiers and airmen of Maryland’s National Guard. One of the most important and rewarding roles involves providing volunteer medical and mental health support to National Guard soldiers who, in returning from Iraq or other crisis spots around the world, must complete a health self-assessment as part of the Department of Defense’s Post Deployment Health Reassessment Program (PDHRA).
The PDHRA process occurs six months after the soldiers’ return from deployment and after they’ve already completed an initial physical and socio-emotional health evaluation. The reassessment is designed to help soldiers identify any lingering health concerns. The PDHRA helps identify not only chronic injuries, but potential mental health needs as well. This is important since the full psychological impact of their deployment may not manifest until long after they have returned home. This is often encountered as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can have both adverse emotional and even physical effects, not only for the affected soldiers but their families and loved ones as well.
More than 30 MDDF physical and mental health personnel have been trained to help soldiers perform these reflective in-depth evaluations so that MDNG soldiers can get further treatment and support as required. The evaluations are normally conducted at Veterans’ Administration (VA) hospitals.
MDDF’s involvement in PDHRA began in May of 2006 when the 10th Medical Regiment’s mental health team lead by MAJ Marcus Ritter began providing psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers to help in mental health need reassessments. This worked so well that the Maryland National Guard asked for physical clinicians to join in. Since then, more than 20 MDDF physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants have helped assess returning soldiers’ physical well being. During the process, they offer on-site counseling and help coordinate follow-up care ranging from immediate hospitalization to more long-range treatment and rehabilitation support. More than 30% of the returning soldiers have been identified as needing some form of supportive intervention.
Each screening begins with the soldiers’ viewing of the compelling educational film BATTLEMIND which relates how military training for combat and their operational experiences may have affected their emotional state. Next, the soldiers complete a standard self-assessment form with the assistance of MDDF clinicians. This form contains screening questions on general health, injuries, and exposure to toxins that may be related to combat or operational factors. There are also questions designed to evaluate depression, anxiety, excessive alcohol use, and any undue stress or strain such PTSD.
After completing this self assessment, soldiers who are experiencing difficulty accepting, understanding, and dealing with the multiple emotional problems related to combat stress injuries are given the opportunity to meet with the Behavioral Health team. MDDF clinical assessors are trained to help people in need accept treatment or follow-up services. The Behavioral Health team along with National Guard and Veterans Administrative support teams arrange follow-up for the soldier at appropriate centers. Soldiers with expressed acute problems have even been sent for urgent hospitalization.
Approximately 100 National Guardsmen participate in the assessment program every two months.
The Maryland Defense Force, headquartered at the Pikesville Military Reservation in Baltimore, is a volunteer uniformed state military agency organized under the Maryland Military Department. Formally established by the Maryland legislature in 1917, the unit's heritage and traditions trace back to the 17th century. Its mission is to provide competent supplemental professional and technical support to the Maryland Military Department and the Maryland National Guard.
MDDF’s 10th Medical Regiment provides professional medical and mental health support to the Maryland National Guard and strengthens Maryland communities by augmenting the state's physical and mental health infrastructure. During natural or man-made disasters the regiment provides emergency surge capacity support to civil authorities as directed by the Governor through the Adjutant General.
For further information about the Maryland Defense Force, visit www.mddefenseforce.org.
|
|
