Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Isakson Praises Collaboration Between Augusta's VA Medical Center and Army Medical Center to Provide Optimal Care for Wounded Soldiers
Commends Work of CRSA Wounded Warrior Care Project During Senate Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today again applauded the unique collaboration between the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon to provide optimal medical care to wounded American soldiers.

Isakson also commended Jim Lorraine, the director of the Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project, who testified today in Washington before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs during a hearing. Isakson is a member of the committee.

Isakson has long praised Augusta as a national model for the way the VA and Department of Defense work together there to provide care to our wounded servicemembers. The VA and the Department of Defense in Augusta collaborated to form the nation's only Active Duty Rehabilitation Unit located within a VA facility. It is located at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center's Uptown Division. The Active Duty Rehab Unit and the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Gordon have treated hundreds of wounded warriors, and the Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project works to ensure that these facilities are fully utilized so that troops receive the best care.

"We must do all that we can to honor the brave men and women in uniform who have been injured while serving in the United States military—that means making sure that they have the best medical care possible," Isakson said. "The collaboration between the Charlie Norwood VA Clinic and the Eisenhower Medical Center at Fort Gordon is a model for the nation on how to provide optimal medical treatment for wounded soldiers. I applaud Jim Lorraine and the Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project for their excellent work."

Isakson has been a long supporter of the project and has visited these facilities in Augusta numerous times. Isakson also held a Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs field hearing onsite in August 2007 and hosted a tour of the Augusta facilities with Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth in August 2010.

Isakson also cosponsored, The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which passed unanimously in the Senate in 2007. It provides for the establishment of a comprehensive policy on the care and management of wounded warriors and seeks to address the shortcomings in the government process that facilitates the transfer of wounded soldiers from active duty to veteran status. This legislation was later included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, passed by the House and Senate and signed into law.