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Sat Mar 3 00:51:49 GMT 2007

In a message dated 3/2/2007 6:39:45 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
Heidi.Hotz at cshs.org writes:

Ken,

I too share these concerns. 

I'll get right to the  bottom line... the patients are suffering and not
getting the level of care  they need. Based on my recall of the news, the TBI
patients are in need  rehabilitation and getting nothing of the sort. Some
families have been  able to have their loved ones placed them in good rehab
facilities and the  patient have thrived. 

I believe that the solutions will take many  years to implement if at all. 

In the meantime, with the severe  shortage of rehabilitation facilities and
issues with insurance coverage,  what is to happen to all of our military
service trauma patients with TBI  that are in desperate need of
rehabilitation services? 

Thank you  for voicing your concerns and thoughts. 

Heidi

Heidi A. Hotz,  RN, Trauma Program Manager
Department of Surgery
Cedars-Sinai Medical  Center
8700 Beverly Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA  90048

Heidi and Others.    

Today I have received innumerable calls and e-mails from persons I cannot  
identify publicly for fear of their being fired.  They indicated that the  
comments are right on and long over due to be stated.   The real  problem is the 
Bell Commission and BRAC, which had some logic before 9/11, al  Quida, and Iraq 
etc.   Today with our military medical challenges BRAC  is an inappropriate 
action.  I have three recommendations to be done by  CONGRESS, GAO, or the 
PRESIDENT ASAP.  In light of the today's resignation  of the Secretary of the Army, 
and the relief of Gen Kevin Keiley as CG of Walter  Reed even before he took 
office, it is URGENT that these three things begin to  happen.  

1.    REOPEN BRAC with a Civilian lead, military  participating Commission on 
a total TOTAL reorganization of Military  Medicine.  I would be happy and 
pleased to be part of such a  commission.   Many MANY faulted decisions of the 
original Bell  Commission need to be revisited in light of today's challenges.  

2.    Elevate the position of military medicine's  TOP DOC (Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs) to a Deputy  Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs.   At one time in distant past  this top doc position was a Deputy 
Sec level.  

3.    For ALL military medical activities other than  special operations, 
have ONE military medical command.  The surgeon general  for this common command 
would have 3-4 stars.  This doctor general would  sit on the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff in the Pentagon and represent sound medical  quality principles.   

I would urge each of you to communicate to your congress persons and  federal 
judges, governors, VA System friends and others via whatever means is  
possible.   The above three changes are long  overdue.    Let us help make them 
happen.   

Kenneth L. Mattox, MD
Houston

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