Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center - Richmond, VA
Polytrauma Network Site (PNS) in Richmond Virginia
Mission: The mission of the Polytrauma Network Site is to enhance, preserve, and restore the quality of life of the person served through the use of interdisciplinary rehabilitation services.
Vision: Treatment is complete when the person served reaches the optimum, attainable level of independence, and social participation in a home community of his or her choice and/or no longer participates. Rehabilitation is best when provided by an interdisciplinary team that includes the person served.
Our Goal: Our goal is to see our patients confidently navigate the least restrictive environment in which the person can function safely.
Overview: PNS provides assessment for physical, cognitive and emotional problems related to polytrauma injury. We provide individualized outpatient polytrauma rehabilitation services in a setting that meets the needs of our veterans, service members, and their families. We develop and manage interdisciplinary rehabilitation treatment plans in consultation with the PRCs and other VISN medical centers. We provide proactive case management for existing and emerging conditions. And we help our patients identify resources for VA and non-VA care across the VISN.
Program Components: We provide a program that addresses the individual needs of our patients with customized programming and treatment using an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation specialists. Our team consists of a physician, a Neuropsychologist, a Psychologist, a Social Worker, a Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Therapist, a Recreational Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Physical Therapist, a Speech Language Pathologist, a Vocational Therapist, and a Nurse Case Manager. We provide group and individual therapies, on-site and community based activities, vocational, and recreational training.
To refer a patient or for more information about the PNS Program please contact:
PNS Case Manager at (804) 675-6478
PNS Medical Director at (804) 675-5000 ext.3771
Links to additional useful information and resources:
Have additional questions about the PNS program? Please reference our New Patient Welcome Packet:
Directions to the PNS Program
Need instructions on how to access your portable health record?
My HealtheVet offers you tips and tools (including access to your portable health record) to help you partner with your health care team, so together you may work to manage your health.
We offer TELEHEALTH! Contact our Telehealth Coordinator at (804) 675 5000 ext. 2463 if you are interested.
The PNS program offers a new program called Clinical Video Telehealth into the Home (CVThm). This program allows Veterans to access their VA health care providers and receive health care through secure, encrypted video teleconferencing from the comfort and privacy of their own home.
Link to additional useful information and resources: VA Telehealth
Your Wellness is important to us!
Healthy decisions and a healthy lifestyle are critical components to healing and successful rehabilitation. Provided are some resources to assist you with assessing and developing that healthy lifestyle that will improve your healing and rehabilitation efforts:
What is the Healtheliving Assessment?
The Healtheliving Assessment is a feature of the My HealtheVet Personal Health Record. The Healtheliving Assessment is a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). It asks you questions about your health history and habits. This includes questions about your diet, exercise, your past health, and your family medical history. At the end, you will receive a personalized report. The report indicates your current health status. It also suggests changes you can make to improve your health and reduce risks of major diseases in the future.
Healthy Living Centers
The Office of Veterans Health Education and Information within the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, in collaboration with the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, has developed a library of educational and health promotion materials on healthy living to enable Veterans to take control of their own health. VHA is in the process of developing a full library of topics for this website. These centers help Veterans take control of their own health. Eating Wisely, Physical Activity, and Sleep are the basics of health.
Other TBI and Polytrauma Educational Resources:
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) created the A Head for the Future initiative to raise awareness and lower the risk of concussion. How? By spreading the word about signs, symptoms and treatment of brain injuries and educating service members and veterans about how to prevent them. We’re talking to you – military families, line leaders, health care providers and caregivers.
Polytrauma System of Care/TBI Webpage
VA’s Polytrauma System of Care (PSC) is an integrated network of specialized rehabilitation programs dedicated to serving Veterans and Service Members with both combat and civilian related Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and polytrauma. Services available through PCS include: interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment, development of a comprehensive plan of care, case management, patient and family education and training, psychosocial support, and application of advanced rehabilitation treatments and prosthetic technologies.
Understanding TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may happen from a blow or jolt to the head or an object penetrating the brain. When the brain is injured, the person can experience a change in consciousness that can range from becoming disoriented and confused to slipping into a coma. The person might also have a loss of memory for the time immediately before or after the event that caused the injury. Not all injuries to the head result in a TBI.
Understanding Polytrauma
Polytrauma occurs when a person experiences injuries to multiple body parts and organ systems often, but not always, as a result of blast-related events. TBI frequently occurs in polytrauma in combination with other disabling conditions, such as amputation, burns, spinal cord injury, auditory and visual damage , spinal cord injury (SCI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other medical conditions. Due to the severity and complexity of their injuries, Veterans and Service Members with polytrauma require a high level of integration and coordination of clinical care and other support services.
