The senior
adviser for the Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wounded Warrior
and Survivor Care Task Force visited Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center,
where he was once commander and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center Active
Duty Rehabilitation Unit. He also sat in on a transition round table with the
Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project.
"I
think you all are leading the way," said Xenakis to the members of the
civilian and military community participating in the round table meeting.
"I don't think anyone has if all figured out."
Issues
discussed at the round table included an upcoming job fair with a special
emphasis on those with traumatic brain injury; a new pain management project;
an update on a Veterans Court which provides treatment for those who've been
arrested in non-violent offenses; and a veterans' computer training initiative.
"What
is done here is something vital. It's a national issue - how we care for our
warriors, their Families and survivors," he said. "At these sorts of
round tables people are able to join hands."
Xenakis
said he was especially pleased to see the VA's Active Duty unit and learn about
the collaboration between the VA and Eisenhower.
"Ten
years ago, Doug Barnard (former U.S. Congressman) and I published an op/ed
piece to bring the DOD and VA together," he said.
It
received a lot of criticism at the time, he said.
Xenakis
said he would take back lessons learned in the area and pass them on to see if
other communities could follow the pattern Augusta has made.
Laurie
Ott, executive director of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, said she was
excited to hear Xenakis' comments that Augusta was leading the way.
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