Staff at Tampa VA learn to not wake up PTSD patients

This has been fairly big news down here in Florida. A wounded 22 year old veteran out of Cape Coral wanted to recover closer to home, so he was transferred from Walter Reed to Tampa VA, A. James Haley Hospital. It was a move that made it worse for him. One of the biggest issues was that this soldier was suffering physically and from PTSD but staff members were still waking up PTSD soldiers in the middle of the night.

Lawmaker tours Tampa V.A. hospital, says changes are planned
Story Created: Nov 18, 2010

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida lawmaker says Tampa’s James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital is making changes following complaints of poor practices and unsanitary conditions.

Congresswoman Kathy Castor says she made a surprise tour of the medical center during a visit last week for a Veterans’ Day parade. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed Castor’s visit.

Private First Class Corey Kent, from Cape Coral, was critically injured by an I.E.D while serving in Afghanistan this summer. The 22-year-old was recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center until he was transferred to Tampa’s V.A. hospital last month.

Kent’s family says the progress he made at Walter Reed almost immediately began to reverse in Florida. Dan Ashby, Kent’s step-father, emailed photos to WINK News showing mold in a bathroom, dirty floors, a hole in a wall, and other conditions that troubled him.

Ashby also said his step-son, who has post traumatic stress syndrome, was once shaken awake in the middle of the night by a physician. He also complained of a lack of communication between doctors regarding Kent’s care.

Ashby shared his concerns with lawmakers in Washington after Kent was transferred back to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Castor, who represents the Tampa area, said she took his concerns seriously. After touring the hospital, she e-mailed Ashby with her findings. Ashby shared the e-mail with WINK News. Castor’s office also confirmed the correspondence.

Congresswoman Castor sent a letter to his family and this was the part that stood out above the rest because it shows how little the VA knows about PTSD in too many cases.

* They plan to educate their staff on PTSD to ensure they take into account the unique issues facing these patients and adjust their treatment accordingly. They indicated to me that they understand your concern with having a care provider come into his room in the middle of the night and shake his bed as inappropriate for someone suffering from PTSD.

Read more: Lawmaker tours Tampa VA

Walter Reed problems got national attention but when it comes to the other hospitals in the country, local media cover at as a local issue instead of acknowledging that when it comes to veterans, their care should matter to the nation as a whole.