SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), one in six returning service members will develop PTSD or other combat stress-related disorders. Affected service members may suffer memory loss, irritability, depression, trouble sleeping and other challenges within 60 to 90 days post deployment, but these symptoms may occur earlier or later. If left untreated, symptoms could cause serious physical and mental health problems for service members and their families.
To address and support the health care needs of South Dakota's military families, TriWest Healthcare Alliance and U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers in South Dakota (Sioux Falls and Black Hills) are hosting a "Combat Stress-related Disorders" videoconference on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. The videoconference will last from 1 until 4 p.m. CST (noon to 3 p.m. MST).
The videoconference will bring together nearly 150 community-based physicians, nurses, psychiatrists and other health care professionals that care for service members and their families. The providers will learn to identify symptoms of PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other combat-stress disorders, as well as treatment methods.
Key conference presenters are Paul Rentz, Ph.D., staff psychologist at Sioux Falls VA Medical Center; and Ashok V. Kumar, M.D., director of Sleep Lab and Respiratory Division at VA Black Hills Health Care System and chief of Aviation Medicine at South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG).
The conference will broadcast simultaneously to providers in 12
locations including Aberdeen, Brookings, Hot Springs, Madison, Mitchell,
Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Watertown, Winner and Yankton.
It will originate in Sioux Falls at the University Center, 2005 Career
Place, Room 282 and in Rapid City at the South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology, Classroom Building Room 109, 501 E. Saint Joseph St.
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