Coming home for TLC

[GAP]

Coming home for TLC
Soldiers wounded in Afghanistan to recuperate in local hospitals
By JOHN GILLIS Health Reporter
Article Link

Hundreds of soldiers from the Maritimes will soon be leaving for Afghanistan and the dangerous nature of the mission means dozens of them are expected to come back home with serious injuries.

During their February-to-August stint, many of those who are injured or become ill overseas will be transferred to Maritime civilian hospitals to be treated close to their loved ones.

It will mark the first time since the Korean War in the early 1950s local hospitals have handled combat casualties, said Cmdr. David Wilcox, the senior military physician for Atlantic Canada.

"It’s new," he said Wednesday. "We’ve never really been engaged in this type of war for quite a while."

The bulk of the new contingent of soldiers is coming from CFB Gagetown, so those who are injured are being handled by Land Forces Atlantic. Treatment for soldiers during the last two rotations was co-ordinated through Ontario and Alberta.

Military and local hospital officials are expecting about 10 sick or injured soldiers a month, based on the last two rotations.

Cmdr. Wilcox said summers in Afghanistan tend to see more full-fledged combat, whereas more injuries come from car bombs and other explosives in the winter.

Soldiers could be lying in hospital beds in Halifax or Saint John, N.B., surprisingly soon after being injured in Afghanistan.

"They’ll probably be in Canada within three days," Cmdr. Wilcox said. "We try to get them out of there as quickly as possible."

Doing that will involve a journey through three continents, with the co-operation of numerous agencies at each stage.

Cmdr. Wilcox said the hospital in Kandahar is only meant to provide life-saving care. Once stabilized there, Canadian troops are transported to an American military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.
More on  link

 

[observor 69]

Sounds like a fine idea and the hospitals are to be congratulated for extending this offer. And as the article states the military will be monitoring the treatment provided to ensure it is in compliance with the best medical standards.

 

[GO!!!]

Sounds like a fine idea and the hospitals are to be congratulated for extending this offer.

It's not "optional" for the hospital, it's a duty imposed on them by the feds - they have no choice.

And as the article states the military will be monitoring the treatment provided to ensure it is in compliance with the best medical standards.

Unfortunately, this can also mean partaking in the waiting lists that plague civilian hospital system, which would not be the case if they were kept in Landstuhl or Ramstein.

I suspect the high cost of of the exemplary US military medical treatment, combined with the practice of bringing the next of kin to Europe to see the injured in hospital quickly made a financial case to return the injured to Canada ASAP.

As the article stated though, are we really doing what is best for the injured, bringing them back to an overtaxed civilian system with long waiting lists and virtually no experience in treating battlefield injuries? Would the severely wounded not be better off in the care of dedicated medical professionals, who are intimately familiar with the vagaries of blast, shrapnel, and burn combination injuries?

 

[armyvern]

And I must add, that the schools here in Oromocto are doing some excellent work in preparing for this deployment. All school staff through the District have been taking special training relating to stress etc so that they can help our soldier's children make it through this deployment period with as little upheaval as possible. It's great to see a community pulling together like this.

Vern

 

[armyvern]

It's not "optional" for the hospital, it's a duty imposed on them by the feds - they have no choice.

Go!!, the hospitals around here are going above and beyond what is required of them by the feds. They feds require them to treat the soldiers in the region, but the hospitals are working hard to ensure that any soldier who needs to be re-patted can be treated within his 'local' area; which is by far, closer to home than the standard requirement of somewhere within the Atlantic Region.

Halifax, for example is an awful long drive from Fredericton.

 

[caper09]

The injured members although held in civilian hospitals will still be seen by military doctors.  There are already military doctors set aside to do this.  Also, if a soldier is from Halifax or another location in the Maritimes they will be sent to the nearest appropriate civilian hospital. not just the hospital in Fredericton. 

 

[armyvern]

Exactly. They are working to insure that our injured can be treated locally and not not just "within the region" as required by the feds. This hopefully, will go far to aid in both the soldiers recovery process' and lessen the impact upon upon the families involved, and with their kids schooling.

 

[beach_bum]

And I must add, that the schools here in Oromocto are doing some excellent work in preparing for this deployment. All school staff through the District have been taking special training relating to stress etc so that they can help our soldier's children make it through this deployment period with as little upheaval as possible. It's great to see a community pulling together like this.

Vern

I saw a segment about this stress training for the kids on the news recently.  An outstanding idea.  I don't think a lot of people realize the stress that young children can suffer from, and to deal with it before it becomes an issue with them is wonderful.

As far as the soldiers being treated locally, I also agree with this.  While the hospital may not have a lot of experience with these issues, they are still be overseen by the military doctors.  I think the fact that their loved ones will be with them throughout the recovery process will help with both the physical and emotional healing for both the soldiers and the families. 

 

[PQLUR]

Well thats fantastic the support our troops receive today compared to just not too long ago.

Too bad the CF does not have any of their own CF Hospitals left (and yes I am well aware of why etc . . we don't)

 

[Gunner98]

The military HSS community has created some very good relationships with civilian hospitals - Vancouver, Edmonton, Valcartier, Toronto, Ottawa, Pembroke which are home to current and former medical practitioners (surgeons, psychiatrists, nurses and physicians). Places like Ste. Anne's Hospital near Montreal are an excellent example of these close ties between, CF, DVA and civilian health care.  Many locations have committed ward space for returning soldiers and CFHS has an active liaison team that orients staff of the facilities that admit a soldier to the unique needs of our warriors.  In places like Pembroke, Ottawa and Vancouver many of the senior staff and from time to time the Chiefs of Staff, have previously worn our country's uniform.  Yes things continue to improve in a timely manner.

As far as GO's and the Librarian's comments - "...They feds require them to treat the soldiers in the region..."
Since Regular Force soldiers and RCMP members are uninsured Canadians, the civilian hospitals cannot be required by the feds to treat the soldiers.  They are going above and beyond but with an incentive in that this is good for their publicity, reputation and their bottom line.  The US military follows the same principle that proximity of care to the family support network is important to recuperation.  In their case they have military and VA hospitals to permit caring for their own close to home. 

We, as uninsured Canadians without military hospitals, must rely on the goodwill and support of our local communities to provide the same benefit of proximity. 

 

[Jewelle]

I saw a segment about this stress training for the kids on the news recently.  An outstanding idea.  I don't think a lot of people realize the stress that young children can suffer from, and to deal with it before it becomes an issue with them is wonderful.

Not only young children, my husband was injured Sept. 3rd of this year and just last week, my fourteen year old said to me " you know mom, everytime the phone rings in our classroom, I think they are phoning to tell me something has happened to dad".  It has been a loooong tour.

JB

 

[captainj]

There is no real issue of being a uninsured Canadian. The fact of the matter is the hospitals and Med staff love to have us for may reasons number one being they charge DND more than the insured rate. In addition they get the $$$ much faster than prov insurance. I have had this confirmed by a number of folks. I had very serious surgery in 2005 (ROTO 14 injury) and my Dr was clear on how he loved dealing with DND. In point of fact I would say we have a two tiered system in Canada. We are at the top of it. Additionally I can tell you from working as a AO to a wounded chap and working with his Dr and the staff who pays the bills this is these cases. Insofar as Military Doctors looking after our people please.....................The CF Doctors for the most part act in the role as a family Dr. with the wounded. The work is sub contracted out to highly skilled civilians. While the hospital in Ottawa had its points the drive from the maritimes to Ottawa is far greater than that from Fredsville to Halifax....................................

What is really needed is DND to take a real hard look at how we support the wounded family. Guess what after 15 days you are on your own. It can be extended to 30 with a Doctors letter to the Comd then thats it done...................................
You then pay for parking meals gas etc etc etc. good news however the AO gets to claim as long as they are on the case, go figure.................................

I can assure anyone that the Med staff at Sunnybrooke has plenty of experience with bullet wounds it is Toronto after all. The blast injuries are another issue. Guess what up until a wee while ago our folks had little experience.

I would be remiss for all those concerned with the wounded not to urge you to check out www.woundedwarriors.ca

Captain J 

 

[lostrover]

As GO!!! mentioned..

As the article stated though, are we really doing what is best for the injured, bringing them back to an overtaxed civilian system with long waiting lists and virtually no experience in treating battlefield injuries? Would the severely wounded not be better off in the care of dedicated medical professionals, who are intimately familiar with the vagaries of blast, shrapnel, and burn combination injuries?

Would any readers of this form whom have more insight into this aspect care to comment on the above?..

As members of the CF or RCMP, is care not guaranteed by the Provincial Health Care systems by virtue of standing agreements currently in place?  (ie serving member can present themselves at any public hospital and be cared for).  Is the level of care to be afforded to our wounded going to be greater than that of the regular population?

 

[Edward Campbell]

... Is the level of care to be afforded to our wounded going to be greater than that of the regular population?

I certainly hope so!

A level of care greater than that afforded to the general population is, already, routinely provided to selected groups - including, in many jurisdictions, workers injured on the job.

It would be improper in the extreme to subject wounded military members to the public healthcare system or to a level of care less than that afforded to a careless bricklayer; they have earned a right to a decent, responsive level of care.

 

[captainj]

Guys get with the program. Yes care is guaranteed full stop and while the health care system does its level best we are generally well looked after. Our Med plan compared to the lions share is heads and above most out there.  Gone are the days of NDMC and even then do you think they had all the specialist I think not. . Here is reality and it is time to do a reality check. The CF has a difficult enough time attracting Med people both Doctors and Nurses let alone keeping them in. How can you possibly expect a Doctor/Nurse to hang around when there is so much to offer outside. My wife has been offered outrageous $$$$ to move to the states (Oncology aka Cancer). It just isn't realistic to expect what you guys are advocating. Another thing to note is yes the US has the biz in Germany (I have seen it first hand as a AO) But all those great Doctors and Nurses are for the most part Reservists. Guess what when you take from one to add to the other the civilian side looses out. But heck they only look after careless bricklayers

Captain J

 

[geo]

As far as GO's and the Librarian's comments - "...They feds require them to treat the soldiers in the region..."
Since Regular Force soldiers and RCMP members are uninsured Canadians, the civilian hospitals cannot be required by the feds to treat the soldiers.  They are going above and beyond but with an incentive in that this is good for their publicity, reputation and their bottom line.  The US military follows the same principle that proximity of care to the family support network is important to recuperation.  In their case they have military and VA hospitals to permit caring for their own close to home. 

We, as uninsured Canadians without military hospitals, must rely on the goodwill and support of our local communities to provide the same benefit of proximity. 

Rant on!

Where do you get the uninsured customers??? The CF and the RCMP are undiscounted full payment customers.  The Fed gov't pays for every intervention, tongue depressor, ear squib, cough drop, etc...... we are not a provincial charity case.

Furthermore,  Health care is mandated by the federal gov't to be a provincial responsibility for which the Fed Gov't does kick in some tax $$$s.  Watch what would happen if a province refused to provide full and adequate health care to one of our members...

Rant Off!

 

[captainj]

Geo

Finally some sanity re this thread. I think you and are are old soldiers who have been around the block. You are 100% correct re the CF and the RCMP being undiscounted full payment customers. In point of fact the hospitals etc get payment far quicker from us than the province.

Captain J

 

[geo]

Every time I have to go for a consultation, the Hospital accounting dept is real happy to see me.  Full service with a smile....
"show the paying customer to a seat"
Ya all come back now, ya hear! 

 

[geo]

Mind ya, in Ontario, serving members have to pay OHIP fees on their income
so, they pay are doubly paying customers ( though I would wager the province would deny that fine point)

 

[GO!!!]

... virtually no experience in treating battlefield injuries? Would the severely wounded not be better off in the care of dedicated medical professionals, who are intimately familiar with the vagaries of blast, shrapnel, and burn combination injuries?

Would any readers of this form whom have more insight into this aspect care to comment on the above?..

OK, a lively discussion here in reference to payment, but what I'm concerned about (deploying soon) is the care I am to recieve if I'm hurt.

My opinion is that I would rather be in a military hospital (in Europe/US/wherever) that specialises in whatever injury I have. For example, if I am hit with an IED, and suffer blast, burn, numerous broken bones and penetrating trauma, is the best place for me the University hospital here in Edmonton? Would I not be better off in a facility that deals exclusively with this sort of injury?

Given that different medical facilities have different specialties (ie Cardiac/pallative/oncology) and this provides a higher standard of care, is the same not true for battlefield injuries?