National Conference To Help Rural Veterans Cope With Combat Stress, Hosted By Geisinger

Main Category: Anxiety / Stress
Also Included In: Conferences;  Veterans / Ex-Servicemen;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 07 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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With the war in Iraq in its sixth year and a new generation of veterans requiring care, Geisinger Health System will host a conference May 13 that brings together military and civilian experts to better understand and meet the unique challenges faced by rural soldiers and their families.

The goal of the conference, Combat Stress Injuries/Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Rural Veterans and Their Families, is to encourage regional healthcare workers to work together to triage vulnerable rural soldiers to the VA and other community agencies.

"We can improve the dissemination of behavioral healthcare in rural areas through partnerships and shared resources," said Geisinger President and CEO Glenn Steele Jr., MD, PhD. "This is an approach that could work nationally."

Today, rural soldiers returning from a deployment - and eager to get home - often find themselves miles away from the closest government facility. As a result, many postpone needed behavioral care.

The conference will focus on making sure rural soldiers receive timely care from the appropriate source. Attendees will include doctors, nurses, social workers, mental health counselors and veterans.

Florida State University Traumatology Institute Director Charles Figley, PhD is the keynote speaker. Retired U.S. Army officer and former Wilkes-Barre television news anchor Keith Martin will serve as the conference moderator.

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The Geisinger Rural Health Policy Institute and Florida State University Traumatology Institute are sponsoring the conference.

About Geisinger Health System

Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA) is one of the nation's largest integrated health services organizations. Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of three medical center campuses, a 700-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Center for Health Research - dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.geisinger.org/

Source: Patti Urosevich
Geisinger Health System

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