FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the risks and costs of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for military personnel and veterans?
- In prior conflicts, TBI was present in at least 14-20% of surviving combat casualties; preliminary information from the current conflict in the Middle East suggests that this number is now much higher.
- In peacetime, over 7,000 Americans with TBI are admitted to military and veterans hospitals each year.
- TBI is a major cause of life-long disability and death.
- Certain military assignments, such as airborne operations or policing in combat areas, carry above-average risk of TBI.
- Blast injuries are a growing cause of TBI in combat.
What is the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)?
The DVBIC is a congressionally mandated collaboration of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) health centers serviing patients with TBI. The DVBIC multi-site network includes a growing number of DoD and VA hospitals as well as civilian TBI rehabilitation programs. Each DVBIC site works collaboratively to provide and improve TBI care for active duty military, veterans and their eligible beneficiaries.
What is the mission of DVBIC?
DVBIC's mission is to ensure expert care coordination and individualized, evidence-based treatment to each patient in order to maximize function and decrease or eliminate TBI-related disability. DVBIC staff work together to provide services and supports to help individuals with TBI return to duty, work and community.
What value is added to a TBI program from being a part of DVBIC?
Collaboration with DVBIC enhances a program’s:
- Communication among member programs
- Patient case management
- Clinical care practice
- Provider, patient and family education efforts
- Ability to provide TBI research
- Access to collaborators for multi-site studies
How is DVBIC different from other brain injury research programs?
- DVBIC focuses on the well-being of those who put themselves in harm's way for our country
- No other brain injury program conducts clinical studies with active duty military
- Specialized focus on the unique needs of military and veteran beneficiaries including return to duty considerations, and continuity of care with military and veterans hospitals and TRICARE
Do DVBIC sites provide a specific set of treatment and/or services?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a broad range of physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and social challenges. DVBIC sites provide a consistent standard of clinical care and rehabilitation. At the same time, each person has an individualized plan of care that addresses his/her individual needs. Patients with TBI have access to ongoing DVBIC clinical research trials.
What type of care is available for people with TBI through DVBIC sites?
Each local facility takes an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to brain injury evaluations. Individuals evaluated at a DVBIC site receive a comprehensive assessment that may include any of the following examinations:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurological
- Neuropsychological (including comprehensive neuropsychological testing)
- Laboratory (blood work)
- Psychiatric
- Psychological Health
- Psychosocial
- Vestibular
- Visual/Audiological (including formal audiometry)
- Electroencephalographic (EEG)
Additionally, people admitted to inpatient TBI rehabilitation programs at a VA site receive:
- Physiatric assessment
- Occupational Therapy
- Rehabilitation Nursing
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Cognitive Therapy
- Psychology
- Therapeutic Recreation
- Other rehabilitative therapies as indicated
Other evaluations (i.e. neuro-ophthalmology, dental, ear/nose/throat [ENT], vestibular [balance] testing and treatment, psychiatry etc.) may be obtained if a need for these services is identified. Treatment is based on individual goals in an multi-disciplinary team setting. Persons who require community re-entry rehabilitation in a residential setting can receive it at our civilian partner sites: Virginia NeuroCare, Inc. in Charlottesville, VA and DVBIC-Johnstown in Johnstown, PA.
Who may be referred to DVBIC?
Any service member or veteran with TBI covered by TRICARE or VA benefits may be referred to DVBIC.
Who may refer someone with TBI to DVBIC?
We accept self-referrals as well as referrals from family members, primary care physicians, and other healthcare providers.
How can you refer a patient to DVBIC?
To begin the referral process, which includes a review of all related medical documentation, either contact one of our regional locations directly, using our Contact Us form, or call 800.870.9244 and our headquarters will direct you to the appropriate staff member.