Today I was with the PCLS for another really interesting day at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre. This teams role is to make contact with all the wounded warriors that return from theatre with physical injuries. Their interventions are generally brief but really important in supporting the individual adjust to being back and to often significant injuries. They provide that support for as long as they are in-patients and will refer on where necessary. They carry out screening of all personnel as well as providing daily support via their team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners and social workers. They also provide support to the families as requested and in the form of a weekly group. They also run a weekly group for injured personnel. In addition they link in with child and adolescent services to provide assessment and support to injured warriors children. In all, it is a very comprehensive service.
Other aspects they are involved in includes providing liaison to any medical patient within the hospital with psychiatric or mental health related issues. They also provide psychiatric liaison for the Emergency Department.
During my time I was able to sit in on morning and afternoon rounds of the team. I was able to escort one of the army psychiatrists on his patient visits and be present during the trauma teams ward round in which there is a psychiatric input. I also spent time discussing the use of hypnotherapy for anxiety and pain management (a intervention used a lot in the team). I also sat in on MDT discussion and patient consults.
This is another example of a really comprehensive service that tries not only to support those in need but helps avoid service personnel ‘slipping through the net’ by seeing and screening all returnees.
