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Air Force provides invisible wounds perspective to Congress

  • Published
  • By Peter Holstein
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  

Col. Steven E. Pflanz, the Director of Psychological Health at the Air Force Medical Support Agency, testified April 27, 2017 before the House Armed Service Subcommittee on Military Personnel about Air Force clinical and research programs related to post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

 

Col. Pflanz told members of the subcommittee that as invisible wounds, PTSD and TBI are not always apparent to others, but they still impose significant problems for Airmen diagnosed with the conditions. He emphasized that while the rate of PTSD in the Air Force remains relatively low, the Air Force Medical Service’s commitment to helping Airmen diagnosed with invisible wounds is unwavering.

“We have a duty to support, protect, and nurture those we work beside to ensure every Airman is capable of maximum performance in support of our national security objectives,” said Pflanz. “No Airman should suffer unnecessarily under the burden of disease.”

The Air Force has made significant improvements in recent years to develop evidence-based treatments for PTSD and deploy these methods into clinical practice throughout Air Force mental health clinics.

“This pioneering work has led to several testable models of PTSD treatment,” said Pflanz. “Today, all Air Force mental health providers routinely receive training in one or more of the several evidence-based therapies proven effective for PTSD, and all Airmen can be confident that they will receive state-of-the-art treatment when they enter an Air Force mental health clinic.”

To improve diagnosis and treatment of TBI, Col. Pflanz mentioned the establishment of an Invisible Wounds Center of Excellence at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Scheduled to open in 2018, Col. Pflanz told the Subcommittee the Center will be a powerful tool to enhance Air Force care for PTSD and TBI. The clinic will offer a range of multidisciplinary diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation capabilities tailored to individual patient’s needs. 

Col. Pflanz was joined by colleagues from the Army, Navy and Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. Each representative emphasized the “team sport” approach to treating invisible wounds, including partnerships between the DoD, the Department of Veteran Affairs and civilian partners.

To view the hearing, visit the House Armed Service Committee website.