Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
The proliferation of improvised explosive devices and similar weapons in the current conflict has resulted in an unprecedented number of blast injuries, including head trauma. A challenge for practitioners is identifying those with no visible head trauma who have incurred traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) is a unique collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is comprised of three Military Treatment Facilities, four VA Medical Centers and one civilian community reentry program.
DVBIC at Walter Reed Army Medical Center screens all wounded service members arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been identified as being at risk for TBI. Data gathered by DVBIC staff is proving invaluable for the military's efforts to direct critical health care resources.