Madigan hospital expands PTSD screening to 12,000

Madigan hospital expands PTSD screening

By Scott Fontaine - The News Tribune
Posted : Tuesday Apr 6, 2010 10:21:58 EDT

TACOMA, Wash. — As some 12,000 soldiers from three Stryker brigades return to Joint Base Lewis-McChord from war this year, Madigan Army Medical Center will temporarily expand its staff and implement new screening programs to catch mental health issues.

Hospital staff will pay special attention to 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which has lost a reported 35 soldiers and has seen frequent combat since it deployed to southern Afghanistan last July.

"It's no surprise the Army is searching for the right answer for this: How do you take care of soldiers and families during this whole cycle?" said Col. Mark Thompson, the hospital's deputy commander for clinical services.

Before each brigade returns to Lewis-McChord, platoon leaders and platoon sergeants will complete a questionnaire on each soldier that looks for potential mental health concerns.
read more here
Madigan hospital expands PTSD screening