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Online Resources for Burned & Wounded Warriors
PTSD Resources
Aftermath of War Coping with PTSD
http://groups.msn.com/AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo
This online support group for PTSD contains dozens of message
boards related to different aspects of PTSD, such as triggers,
claims help, medications, and poetry corner. Anyone can view
posts, but to make a post it is necessary to register first
(free).
Iraq War Veterans PTSD page
http://www.iraqwarveterans.org/ptsd.htm
This page serves as a portal to support groups (many of which
are online), information and news resources on PTSD.
Military Veterans PTSD Manual
http://www.ptsdmanual.com/
The manual is a book published by a disabled Vietnam veteran.
Parts of the book are available freely online and the entirety
of the book can be purchased in print or in electronic form. The
book contains a lot of practical information about how to work
with the VA to obtain assistance, including the types of forms
and documentation that will be required and how to navigate the
system.
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD)
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov
This site, from the Veterans Administration, is a major
clearinghouse for information on PTSD. One subsection of the
site is the PTSD Information Center which contains resources for
healthcare professionals, mental healthcare providers, veterans,
their families, and researchers. PTSD 101, an online curriculum
for mental healthcare providers is available free of charge. The
course is divided up into several modules, and the CE credit is
available. Each module contains a PowerPoint presentation with
audio. A press room with fact sheets and information for the
media is available. PILOTS is a freely accessibly electronic
database to literature on PTSD and can be searched from the
site.
One Freedom Inc.
http://www.onefreedom.org/
One Freedom is a non-profit organization in Colorado which
offers free workshops and retreats for OIF/OEF veterans and
their families in order to cope with combat stress and trauma.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-MedlinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
MedlinePlus is a large portal of reliable health information
written for the layperson. The PTSD site contains links to
information on a variety of aspects of PTSD, such as treatment
and diagnosis, in both English and Spanish. Links to local
health providers and services for PTSD can be found by following
the Go Local link on the page.
Post-traumatic stress disorder-National Institute of Mental
Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
A set of resources on PTSD written for the layperson.
PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within
http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/
The blog written by Ilona Meagher, author of "Moving a Nation to
Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning
Troops" contains news items, podcasts, and vodcasts related to
PTSD, as well as an event/action calendar and links to other
PTSD resources.
PTSD Message Board on Iraq War Veterans Forum
http://groups.msn.com/IraqWarVeterans/ptsdiraq.msnw
The forum is a quite active message board for veterans, family,
and friends affected by PTSD. Anyone can read postings, but to
post it is necessary to join the group (free).
Vet Centers
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
The VA has established 207 community-based Vet Centers which
provide free counseling services to veterans who served in a
combat zone and received a military campaign ribbon as well as
to their families. The web site describes the services offered
and provides a facility locator and contact information.
Vietnam Veterans of America Guide on PTSD
http://www.vva.org/benefits/ptsd.htm
This site provides a very practical guide on how to present a
claim to the VA for PTSD.
Amputee Resources
Amputee Coalition of America
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/
The coalition is a non profit organization founded for the
purposes of education and advocacy. The "Advocacy Action Center"
section of the web site is very comprehensive, with information
on how to get involved in various advocacy efforts, updates on
state and federal legislative efforts, and organizing and
advocacy training events. The Information Center section of the
web site contains links to the National Limb Loss Information
Center library catalog, the full text of articles (including
Easy to Read articles), and a newsletter. Information
specialists at the Center will answer questions by online form,
fax, phone, or mail. Other resources available on the ACA web
site include online support groups, a store, and program and
event information. A fair amount of the site's content is
available in Spanish.
Clinical trials.gov-Amputation
http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/condition=amputation&recruiting=true
This directory of clinical trials related to amputees and
amputation is from the National Institutes of Health. It
provides information about upcoming, currently recruiting, and
completed trials. Purpose of the trial, enrollment eligibility,
and contact information for each trial are included.
MedlinePlus: Amputees
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amputees.html
This section of MedlinePlus, a very large consumer health
portal, is devoted to the topic of amputation. It contains links
to a variety of information sources of interest to amputees in
both English and Spanish. The Go Local link features resources
available in a locality, such as healthcare providers, support
groups, clinics, hospitals, and social services.
National Amputation Foundation
http://www.nationalamputation.org/
Originally founded to serve veterans, the NAF now also serves
civilian amputees. The Foundation's AMP to AMP program is a peer
counseling program available for new amputees.
UpperEx.com
http://www.upperex.com/
This site for upper extremity amputees includes a free
bi-monthly magazine, peer support program, links to support
groups around the world, daily living tips and tricks, and an
events calendar.
The Open Prosthetics Project
http://openprosthetics.org/
The Open Prosthetics Project is a collaborative effort amongst
prosthetics designers, engineers, and prosthetics users in which
designs for new prosthetics are made freely available with no
restrictions on their use (public domain designs).
War Amputees-Iraq and Afghanistan
http://iamputees.blogspot.com/
This blog contains compiled information and news about and for
amputees from the OEF and OIF.
Resources for Spinal Cord Injuries
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
http://www.spinalcord.org/
The NSCIA is a non-profit organization involved in education and
advocacy related to spinal cord injuries and diseases (SCI/D).
There is a lot of information written at a consumer/layperson
level about SCI/D in the "New Injury" section and in A-Z
Resources. There is also a state directory of resources, legal
information, and a forum.
MedlinePlus-Spinal Cord Injuries
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spinalcordinjuries.html
This section of MedlinePlus, a very large consumer health portal
from the National Library of Medicine, is devoted to spinal cord
injuries. It contains links to a variety of information sources
such as tutorials, fact sheets, statistics, and directories in
both English and Spanish. The Go Local link features resources
available in a locality, such as healthcare providers, support
groups, clinics, hospitals, and social services.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
http://www.pva.org/
PVA is a non-profit organization of veterans with spinal cord
injuries and diseases (SCI/D). The site contains overview
information on SCI/D, information on disability rights,
accessibility design, and other topics. The bookstore contains a
variety of freely available print and online publications as
well as publications for sale. The PVA sponsors the National
Veterans Wheelchair games each year.
United Spinal Association
http://www.unitedspinal.org/
The United Spinal Association is a non-profit membership
organization by and for those with spinal cord injuries and
diseases and offers consultations to members in a range of areas
including legal assistance, adaptive technology, and locating
providers. VetsFirst is a national program that offers VA
benefit and claim processing assistance. Using the advocacy
section a user can create a customizable email message to
lawmakers related to current issues and legislation affecting
those with SCI/D. The Publication and Resources section contains
more than 1000 informative articles (some of which are also
available in Spanish), online magazines, wheelchair and
assistive technology reviews, and other resources.
Resources for Burns
American Burn Association
http://www.ameriburn.org/
The ABA is a membership organization of healthcare providers
supporting research, education, patient care, and advocacy for
burn injury. The site contains advocacy resources, burn
prevention information, and professional development
opportunities for healthcare professionals such as annual
meetings and symposia. In conjunction with the American College
of Surgeons, the ABA administers the Burn Center Verification
Program, for which burn centers can qualify if they meet strict
standards.
MedlinePlus-Burns
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/burns.html
This section of MedlinePlus, a very large consumer health portal
from the National Library of Medicine, is devoted to burns. It
contains links to a variety of information sources such as
tutorials, fact sheets, statistics, and directories in both
English and Spanish. The Go Local link features resources
available in a locality, such as healthcare providers, support
groups, clinics, hospitals, and social services.
The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
http://www.phoenix-society.org/
This society is a national advocacy and education group for
those with burn injuries. The site contains information about
the Society's programs, chat rooms, a directory of local
resources, and articles for survivors, family, and caregivers.
Burn Survivors Online
http://www.burnsurvivorsonline.com/
Burn Survivors Online is an information and support group for
burn survivors. There are chat rooms, discussion forums, and
articles.
Burn Advocates Network
www.burnadvocates.org
support group for burn survivors, burn camps and burn centers.
The site offers volunteer positions for Vets who want to serve
as mentors and counselors at Burn camps around the country
Resources for Blindness and Eye Injuries
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org/
The AFB offers information on blindness and low vision, message
boards, online books for purchase, an annual conference for
families of children with vision impairments, online
professional development courses, statistics, and a directory of
services.
Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)
http://www.bva.org/
The BVA is an organization of and for blinded veterans. Each
year the organization holds a National Convention, which
includes educational and informational events, as well as a
venue for recently blinded veterans to meet and gain strength
from blinded veterans from earlier conflicts. Several services
are offered by BVA including scholarship and field
representatives who travel to recently blinded veterans to
provide support services
National Federation for the Blind
http://www.nfb.org
The National Federation for the Blind is a membership
organization for the vision impaired. The site is rich, with
programmatic information, resources for living, working,
learning and recreation, an online store of devices, books, and
other items to increase independence, and a free online
newsletter Future Reflections.
Veterans Administration Blind Rehabilitation Service
http://www1.va.gov/blindrehab/
The VA's Blind Rehabilitation Service web site provides
information about services offered, which include mobility and
living skills on an inpatient basis at Blind Rehabilitation
Centers (about a dozen of them around the country). There are
also several outpatient programs, known as VICTORS and VISOR as
well as Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists available in
about two dozen cities.
References
Defense Manpower Data Center. 2007. Global War on Terrorism
Casualty Statistics by Reason. [Online]. Available:
http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/gwot_reason.pdf
[Accessed 26 August 2007].
Eckholm, E. 2006. A new kind of care in a new era of casualties.
New York Times, January 31, 2006 [Online]. Available:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/national/31wounded.html?ex=1296363600&en=7b4480fe6a5f451c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
[Accessed 7 August 2007.]
Fischer, H. 2006 United States Military Casualty Statistics:
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Congressional Research Service Report #RS22452. [Online].
Available:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22452.pdf [Accessed 15
August 2007].
Friedman, M.J. 2006. Posttraumatic stress disorder among
military returnees from Afghanistan and Iraq. American Journal
of Psychiatry 163(4) :586-593.
Gawande, A. 2004. Casualties of war--military care for the
wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan. New England Journal of
Medicine 351(24):2471-2475.
Kauvar, D.S., Wolf, S.E., Wade, C.E., Cancio, L.C., Renz, E.M.,
Holcomb, J.B. 2006. Burns sustained in combat explosions in
Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF explosion burns).
Burns 32:853-857.
Okie, S. 2005. Traumatic brain injury in the war zone. New
England Journal of Medicine 352 (20): 2043-2047.
PBS. 2007. Online Newshour: Coping with combat injuries: An
interview with Dr. Mark Bagg, chief of orthopedic surgery at
Brooke Army Medical Center. [Online]. Available:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec03/bagg_extended.html
[Accessed 22 August 2007.]
President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded
Warriors. 2007a. Serve, support, simplify: report of the
President's Commission on Care for American's Returning Wounded
Warriors. [Online]. Available:
http:///www.pccww.gov[Accessed 17 August 2007.]
President's Commission on Care for American's Returning Wounded
Warriors. 2007b. Serve, support, simplify: report of the
President's Commission on Care for American's Returning Wounded
Warriors, subcommittee report: a system that serves. [Online].
Available: http://www.pccww.gov
[Accessed 20 August 2007].
Scott, S.G., Belanger, H.G., Vanderpoeg, R.D., Massengale, J.,
Scholter, J. 2006. Mechanism of injury approach to evaluating
patients with blast related polytrauma. Journal of the American
Osteopathic Association 106: 265-270.
Seal, K.H., Bertenthan, D., Miner, C.R., Saunak, S., Marmar, C.
2007. Bringing the war back home: Mental health disorders among
103,788 US Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seen at
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Archives of Internal
Medicine 167: 476-482.
Vick, K. 2004.The Lasting Wounds of War: Roadside bombs have
devastated troops and doctors who treat them. Washington
Post,April 27, 2004, Page A01. [Online]. Available:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A44839-2004Apr26?language=printer[Accessed
14 August 2007.]
Warden, D. 2006. Military TBI during the Iraq and Afghanistan
Wars. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 21(5):398-402.
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