Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center - Richmond, VA

Servicemember Transitional Advanced Rehabilitation

STAR Program Patient Perspectives

STAR Therapies & Services

Mission:

To provide a program of comprehensive vocational and physical rehabilitation for injured Service members and Veterans that will facilitate successful return to community and military, federal or civilian employment.

Vision Statement:

To be the provider of choice for injured or ill Service members and Veterans who will benefit from a structured, transitional rehabilitation program focused on physical health, psychological wellness, vocational retraining, and employment support.

History and Program Overview:

In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs responded to a joint Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Task Force’s recommendation to address coordinated efforts on behalf of wounded warriors by launching the Servicemember Transitional Advanced Rehabilitation (STAR) program at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia.

In January 2012, The STAR program was established as a pilot for injured Service members and Veterans who require comprehensive residential rehabilitation to successfully return to work and integrate into the community. After a year of achieving successful vocational and rehabilitation outcomes, the STAR Program was integrated into the VA Polytrauma System of Care.

The STAR Program assists Service members with their transitions from military to civilian life, DoD healthcare to the VA healthcare, hospital to community, and military occupation to civilian occupation.

Each patient is unique and length of stay is determined by each patient’s rehabilitation goal. All patients go through a two-week evaluation period, after which length of stay is determined. Historically, the average length of stay is around 90 days.

Service Members and Veterans who would benefit the most from the STAR program are medically stable, have the potential to successfully participate in groups and individual therapy sessions, are willing to follow the program’s and the facility’s rules, and have goals that can be addressed by the program. Service Members and Veterans who are considering coming into the program should not have active substance abuse concerns, exhibit behaviors posing a risk or safety threat to themselves or others, or exhibit behaviors that require alternate mental health services.

STAR Program Building Tour

Services:

The STAR Program offers a full spectrum of rehabilitation services and follows an interdisciplinary team model which enhances the efficiency and standardization of treatments. The core STAR team and services include:

• Medical Care
• Nurse Case Management
• Nursing Care Services
• Social Work Services
• Structured Mental Health Support and Services
• Physical Therapy Services
• Occupational Therapy Services
• Speech Therapy Services
• Recreation Therapy Services
• Intensive Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Additional Supportive Services offered include:

• Military Liaisons
• Vision / TBI Optometry
• Assistive Technology
• Driver Rehabilitation
• Kinesiotherapy
• Functional Capacity Evaluations
• Intensive Medical Support
• Psychiatry

Paws for Purple Hearts

Yoga at McGuire VA's STAR Program

STAR Qigong & Mindfulness Group

Polytrauma Rehab in the VA: Compassionate Care