[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 101 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF THE STAFF OF THE JAMES HALEY VA MEDICAL 
               CENTER'S POLYTRAUMA REHABILITATION CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the James Haley VA Medical Center, VAMC, 
in Tampa, FL, is one of the busiest veterans' medical facilities in the 
country and provides care to approximately 142,000 veterans in Central 
Florida. The Tampa VAMC is also home to one of four designated 
polytrauma rehabilitation centers in the country where the most 
severely injured service members are treated.
  Military service personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan may have 
serious traumatic brain injuries alone or in combination with 
amputation, visual impairments, orthopedic injuries, hearing disorders 
and mental health concerns. The unique nature of these severe multiple 
injuries has created the need for a blast injury program that can 
address the medical, psychological, rehabilitation, and prosthetic 
needs of these individuals.
  The Tampa VAMC has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in 
Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Medicine. At the Tampa Polytrauma 
Rehabilitation Center, a team of as many as 10 specialists assess the 
needs of the catastrophically injured and their families, to determine 
a comprehensive treatment plan which will help each person reach the 
highest level of physical, emotional, and social independence in the 
home, workplace and community. More than 2,500 outpatients and 140 
inpatients have been treated at the Tampa Polytrauma Center since the 
program began.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have spent a great deal of time 
at the James Haley VAMC, which serves many of the veterans who reside 
in my congressional district. Over the years, I have been impressed by 
the dedication of the men and women who work at the medical center, 
providing quality care and services to our Nation's veterans. Dr. 
Steven Scott, the chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 
Service, and his polytrauma team should certainly be counted among the 
dedicated staff of the VAMC.
  The Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, 
which I chair, has visited the Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center. 
We had an opportunity to spend time with some of our wounded Operation 
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom service members being 
treated at the Polytrauma Center. We also heard from their family 
members who repeatedly praised the polytrauma staff for the 
compassionate and professional care their loved ones were receiving.
  One of the things that stood out when we visited the Tampa Polytrauma 
Rehabilitation Center was the positive outlook of the patients and 
their families--despite everything they had already been through and 
the daunting road of rehabilitation that still lay ahead of them. In 
part, I think they were able to maintain this positive attitude because 
of the tremendous dedication and caring work of the Polytrauma Center 
staff.
  Dr. Scott and his staff have also been vocal advocates for their 
patients, raising issues to my subcommittee's attention which have 
improved the quality of care and services provided to polytrauma 
patients.
  On August 5, 2006, Dr. Scott and his staff are being recognized for 
their service to our Nation's wounded service members and veterans. I 
want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to each 
of them and commend them for the tremendous service they provide to our 
wounded military personnel and veterans.
  Members of the James Haley polytrauma team: Forest Farley, Jr., 
hospital director; Dr. Steven Scott, D.O., chief, Polytrauma Center; 
Dr. John Merritt, M.D., chief, Spinal Cord Injury; Dr. Joel Scholten, 
M.D.; Dr. Cecille Pope, M.D.; Dr. Gail Latlief, D.O.; Dr. Faiza 
Humayun, M.D.; Dr. Rebecca Kayo, Ph.D.; MAJ Steve Moten, U.S. Army, DoD 
Liaison; SGM Vincent Conti, U.S. Army, DoD Liaison; Carolyn Clark, 
public affairs officer; Barbara Darkangelo, P.T.; Judith Pink-Goldin, 
O.T.; Marti Veneman, R.N. and nurse manager; Nancy Kronawetter, R.N.; 
Diana Cronin, R.N.; Karen Meigs, R.N.; Lea Rashka, R.N.; Joann Estep, 
L.P.N.; Barbara Collas, L.P.N.; Patrice Thompson, L.P.N.; Annies Joy, 
L.P.N.; Paula O'Keefe, R.N.; Bernice Willis, R.N.; Chaplain David 
LeFavor; Ivan Colon, R.N.; Frank Bormet, R.N.; Debra Banks, R.N.; 
Elizabeth Butron, R.N.; Pamela Keckler, L.P.N.; Ryan Baker, L.P.N.; 
Earl Gray, N.A.; Tracey Vaness, V.R.T.; James MacAulay, V.R.T.; Laura 
Manore, A.A.; Deborah Studer, S.W.; Margaret Veneman, N.M.; Douglas 
Gephart, P.M.R. coord.; Leslie Rothman, recreational therapy; Linda 
Picon, S.L.P.; Laurel Adams, O.T.; Juan Jose Villeda, P.T.; Steve 
Klemz, S.W.; Felicia Santos, S.W.; Jeanetta Sheppard, S.W.; Diana 
Phillpotts, S.W.; June Demaree, S.W.; Abby Wolf, recreational therapy; 
Laureen Doloresco, assistant chief, nursing; Sandra Janzen, ACOS 
nursing service.

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