VA to Test Brain-injury Telemedicine Program

The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department will be launching a five-hospital pilot program to study how using telemedicine can improve care for military veterans with concussions or mild traumatic brain injury.

Jacob Kean, a visiting assistant research professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, received a 5-year, $920,000 career development grant to build a system for improving long-distance care and assessing a veteran's ability to self-manage his or her condition.

An estimated 180,000 veterans are returning from service with mild to moderate brain injury, and 10% to 20% will experience persistent symptoms such as headaches, lack of concentration, depression and re-experiencing trauma, according to an IU news release...