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PTSD Conference

Saturday, September 12th, 2009 • Uncategorized •

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A guest post this morning about a terrific upcoming PTSD conference…

A New Conference for Healthcare Providers Who Care for Returning Veterans

A new conference takes place this Sept. 25-26 in San Francisco aimed at doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors and other healthcare providers on the front lines in providing care for returning veterans.  Entitled “Complexities and Challenges of PTSD and TBI,” the conference is produced by Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy and Reed Medical Education.

As you know, PTSD is a serious disorder that healthcare providers must be familiar with, and not just those in the VA or military. Given the return of many combat veterans to normal civilian and social environments, frequently it’s primary care and family practice doctors who have the first contact with veterans who experience symptoms of PTSD, or with family members who report what they think are symptoms their loved one is suffering from.  Complicating this is that many veterans return with not only physical wounds of war like traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by IEDs, but mental wounds that are not always immediately evident.  Disorders like depression, anxiety, insomnia, violence and substance abuse are common illnesses in patients with PTSD.  And since veterans often reveal details of what they’re going through in a primary care physician’s office, these providers need to be knowledgeable about the latest and most effective screening techniques.

That need for providers to be familiar with effective screening and treatment is critical, because a large number of veterans are treated outside of the VA and military facilities, in private practices and community-based centers and clinics.  A RAND Corporation study released in April 2008 found that 300,000 individuals – 18.5% of US service members who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq – report current symptoms of PTSD and/or depression.  Rates of PTSD and major depression were highest among Army soldiers and Marines, and among service members who were no longer on active duty.  The combination of multiple, debilitating metal illnesses, sometimes concurrent with physical wounds and TBI, leads to several unfortunate and progressively worsening situations for veterans who return to the community.  These situations include unstable family life, divorce, inability to gain or hold employment, impaired social relationships, suicidal behavior, violence and aggression, substance abuse, crime and more.

In summary, those terrible situations are why we’ve made a commitment to launching this conference and training our healthcare providers to effectively treat PTSD.  Our veterans deserve the best care, no matter where they are treated.  Also this conference assembles the most knowledgeable experts in care of veterans with PTSD – from the US Army, VA Healthcare System, US Navy, Shriners Burn Hospital, US Air Force, and more.  They’ll share their expertise with all kinds of healthcare providers from the VA, military, private practices, community hospitals and clinics.  Our mission is to make life better for veterans who suffer from PTSD and TBI.

Find out more about the upcoming conference at www.reedmeded.com/PTSD.  And if you know a veteran or a veteran’s family member who is struggling with PTSD and its effects on family life, tell them about this conference and tell them to tell their doctor about it.  The smarter their doctor is about how to deal with PTSD, the better off they are.

Stay tuned for a recap and update after the conference, and follow the action live during the conference from @PTSDConference on Twitter.

About Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy: For physicians and healthcare professionals who value the highest standards of clinical care, the Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy provides world-renowned education that improves clinical practice and leads to better lives for patients and their families. Advanced teaching methods, an interactive learning format, and focus on solving real-world, practice-related challenges give the Psychiatry Academy international recognition for helping providers effectively diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders. Visit www.mghcme.org to learn more.

Reed Medical Education produces educational events for healthcare professionals who value the highest standards of clinical care. Our events offer the latest evidence-based research, feature respected faculty from top-tier institutions, and adhere to strict standards that foster an unbiased environment. Most importantly, our events address two critical clinical education needs: they focus on therapeutic areas where there is a great need for continuing medical education, and they focus on clinical challenges where medical disciplines intersect. This approach ensures healthcare professionals develop, share and discuss best practices; incorporate evolving standards of care and new technologies into their practices; and ultimately improve patient care and outcomes. Visit www.reedmeded.com to learn more. 

For further information contact: Glenn L. Laudenslager IV, Marketing Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Academy/Reed Medical Education,

glaudenslager@reedmeded.com

 

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One Response to “PTSD Conference”

  1. PTSD in the News: Weekly Roundup | PTSD in the News | Heal My PTSD, LLC says:
    September 12, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    [...] « PTSD Conference [...]

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