Amputation System of Care

The Amputation System of Care provides specialized expertise in amputation rehabilitation incorporating the latest practice in medical rehabilitation management, rehabilitation therapies, and technological advances in prosthetic devices. Each distinct component of the Amputation System of Care provides graded levels of expertise and accessibility.

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Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation Services coordinates the provision of a full range of rehabilitative services to promote the health, independence and quality of life for Veterans with disabilities. Rehabilitative care services include Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Blind Rehabilitation, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, and Recreation Therapy. Rehabilitation Services are committed to providing high quality, comprehensive care as well as promoting advances in treatment through research and technology.

Audiology & Speech Pathology

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service (ASPS) is dedicated to three major goals:

1. providing high quality, comprehensive, state-of-the-art clinical services to veterans with hearing, tinnitus, balance, speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders;
2. supporting the training of developing audiologists and speech pathologists; and
3. conducting research to improve technologies, methodologies, treatment efficacy, and associated elements of patient care.

Audiology Services include:

1. evaluation and treatment of hearing loss
2. evaluation and management of tinnitus
3. assessment of balance problems
4. evaluation/issue of hearing aids and assistive/alerting devices to eligible veterans
5. cochlear implant and/or bone-anchored hearing management in some locations
6. aural rehabilitation
7. Speech-Language pathology services include:
   • evaluation and treatment of speech
   • language
   • voice and swallowing disorders
   • diagnostic assessment such as modified barium swallow
   • provision of prosthetic communication devices
   • rehabilitation.

Blind Rehabilitation

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides blind and vision rehabilitation programs to eligible beneficiaries who are visually impaired. Veterans Health Administration is the first national healthcare system to completely and seamlessly integrate rehabilitation services for patients with visual impairments into its health benefits. This ensures that patients receive the finest medical and rehabilitation care, as well as cutting-edge assistive technology. The VA Blind Rehabilitation Service model of care encompasses an array of rehabilitative services, extending from the patient's home to the local VA care facility, and to regional low vision clinics and inpatient training programs. These services include adjustment to blindness counseling, patient and family education, benefits analysis, comprehensive residential inpatient training, outpatient rehabilitation services, the provision of assistive technology, and research.

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Chiropractic Care

The VA Chiropractic Service serves Veterans by delivering the highest quality patient-centered, evidence-based care to patients with neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions in a timely, compassionate, cost-effective manner. The Chiropractic Service provides educational opportunities for chiropractic residents, students, and other trainees, and promotes and conducts research leading to improved function, health and quality of life for Veterans.

Chiropractic care includes non-operative management of musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, or pain in joints, via a comprehensive approach including manual techniques and active rehabilitation. Chiropractic services are integrated with primary care, specialty clinics and rehabilitation, and provide a non-pharmacologic option for pain management.

Driver Rehabilitation

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service provides professional evaluation and instruction in the safe, competent utilization of special add-on equipment, and mastery of specific skills and techniques to effectively drive a motor vehicle, independently, and in accordance with State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulations for all eligible Veterans with disabilities and certain military personnel at 45 Certified Driver Training Programs across VHA.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service is a physician directed, interdisciplinary team treatment process designed to increase independence and improve quality of life for persons with disabilities. PM&R is responsible for the clinical direction of special programs, including the Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) System of Care Program and the Amputation System of Care Program. Driver Rehabilitation is another specialized service provided by a number of VA Medical Centers.

Polytrauma/TBI System of Care

The Polytrauma System of Care is an integrated nationwide network of care for Veterans and active duty Service Members recovering from traumatic brain injury and Polytrauma. The system consists of more than 100 programs, each offering specialized rehabilitation care by an interdisciplinary team.

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Recreation Therapy

Recreation Therapy is a direct-care interdisciplinary service, whose aim is to improve and enrich bio-psycho-social functioning through active therapy and/or meaningful therapeutic activities to maintain or improve functional independence and life quality. The Intended outcome of the service is independence in life activities based upon patient/resident needs and goals. This is accomplished through the professional skills of therapists ( Art, Dance, Music, Recreation) , Specialists and Assistants through a four step process of assessment, planning, intervention /activity implementation, and evaluation of services delivered. This is accomplished through state of the art clinical care, education, technology, and research within the scope of recreation/creative arts therapy. The internet site is intended to serve veterans, their family members, recreation/creative arts clinicians, VA staff, affiliated recreation/creative arts associations and the community, providing information about recreation/creative arts therapies.

Recreation Therapy Service provides an activity based patient centered service that integrates function, quality and meaning to ones life through art, dance, music, and recreational activities. Our commitment to the advancement of recreation therapy is accomplished through on-going education, clinical training and research.