VA, DoD Expand Ranks of Federal Recovery Coordinators

Key Members of Team Helping Most Severely Wounded

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the hiring of five new Federal Recovery Coordinators, bringing to 20 the number of professionals coordinating care for the most seriously injured service members.

"Our Federal Recovery Coordinators are key members of a team of health care professionals, therapists, case managers and other specialists, who make up VA's comprehensive care management system for returning service members and their families," Shinseki said.

The new coordinators will be added to the following locations, with the total number of coordinators in each location indicated in parenthesis:

• Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Ga. (3);
• San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas, (4);
• Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif. (4);
• Tampa VA Medical Center (VAMC), Fla. (1);
• Bethesda, National Naval Medical Center, Md. (3);
• Walter Reed Army Medical Center, D.C. (3);
• Houston VAMC, Texas, (1); and
• Providence VAMC, R.I. (1)

The Federal Recovery Coordinators program was created in 2007 to assist service members, Veterans and their families with access to care, services and benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, states and the private sector.  Currently, the coordinators work with 419 of the most seriously injured service members and Veterans.  The program is administered by VA and operated jointly with DoD.  

The program's clients include service members and Veterans who are receiving acute care at military treatment facilities; diagnosed with specific injuries or conditions; considered at risk for psychological complication; or likely to benefit from a recovery plan.  

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs