Chapter 13: Tripler Campus and Veteran Affairs

Other Agencies at Tripler
Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
Telephone 433-7035
Bldg. 160, Krukowski Road
frontoffice@coe-dmha.org  
www.coe-dmha.org 
Mailing Address
COE Disaster Mgt and Humanitarian Assistance
1 Jarrett White Road (MCPA-DM)
Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu, HI 96859-5000

The mission of the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMH) is to educate, train, conduct research and assist in international disaster preparedness, mitigation, management and response, as well as health security, humanitarian assistance and societal resiliency. The Center’s Vision is the Asia Pacific region prepared to respond, collaborate and manage natural and manmade disasters. Our aim is to assist Asia Pacific nations with disaster management plans, response to plausible contingencies, and participation in a regional collaborative framework.

The Center of Excellence (COE) was established in 1994 through congressional legislation sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Inouye. It is a direct reporting unit to U.S. Pacific Command and takes its policy guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). COE is headquartered on the Army installation where Tripler Army Medical Center is also located. Subject matter experts from around the world supplement the staff of 35 civil service, military active-duty and contract personnel. COE operates in an unclassified environment.

PRMC Telehealth
Telephone 433-4500

Video-teleconferencing (VTC) applications are currently in use for Adult and Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (BH), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) treatment between Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) providers and near and distant patient locations. Locations include on-island telehealth suites at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks, 25th Infantry Division Headquarters, Schofield Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) site at Conroy Bowl, and Warrior Ohana Medical Home; the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in American Samoa; the Army’s military treatment facilities (MTFs) at Camp Zama, Japan and in Korea; Navy and Air Force MTFs in Guam, Japan, and Okinawa; MTFs on the mainland at Fort Wainwright and Fort Hood; USAREC facilities across the U.S. and Pacific; and schools on Oahu military bases. Policies and infrastructure are being developed to extend this capability to DoD beneficiaries through Army Reserve or National Guard Armories on neighbor islands and Naval Health Clinic Hawaii. Other locations may be added as needs and sites (patient location) are identified.

The Tele-Behavioral Health and Surge Support (TBHSS) cell links Soldiers/Family members to TBHSS providers located on the TAMC campus via computers, webcams, and VTC technology. Under the clinical direction of a USPHSC psychologist, the staff of psychiatrist, psychologists, and clinical and admin support provide an array of behavioral health assessment, evaluation, treatment and consultation services during pre-deployment and post-deployment surges to warfighters and families, downrange or in garrison, where ever there is a need for augmented behavioral health resources.
The CATS (Child & Adolescent Telebehavioral Services) Program was initiated to respond to the needs of Army youth impacted by military deployments, particularly National Guard/Reserve populations where access to services is limited. Clinical social workers at on-base schools and on Maui and Hawaii identify high-risk children and link them with child psychiatrists and psychologists at Tripler via telehealth equipment. Services are being more broadly marketed to other MTFs where there are limited or no child behavioral services.

The TBI or Concussion Clinic uses VTC technology to connect with patients at Schofield Barracks and American Samoa.

Their efforts are credited with establishing the early links to both locations and funding much of the VTC equipment that is used across TAMC and PRMC for TBI and BH. Their multidisciplinary program includes primary care for concussion patients, BH, speech therapy, and case management.

Pacific Asynchronous Tele-Health (PATH) is an Internet-based, asynchronous (store-&-forward), provider-to-provider teleconsultation system. The PATH website is hosted at TAMC and readily available any time to distant providers with an Internet connection and browser software. Distant providers enter patient clinical needs and supplementary pictures, video, or sound which are screened by physicians at TAMC and routed to specialists to respond. PATH is currently processing over 850 teleconsultations/year, from over 20 hospitals and clinics in the Pacific, for 40 different pediatric and adult medical and surgical specialties. The newest application facilitates air evacuation referral and coordination throughout the Pacific.

The Tele-Critical Care Unit (TCCU) was conceived in response to a need for access to critical care specialists from distant medical treatment facilities. It started in 2001 with monitoring and managing patients at distant ICUs, first in Guam Naval and then Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital-Korea in 2007. The program converted to high-definition teleconferencing systems in 2011. Sites at Navy facilities in Okinawa and Yokosuka are now operational.

The Pacific Islands Health Care Project (PIHCP) is another asynchronous program that benefits Graduate Medical Education (GME) for medical interns and residents at TAMC and provides humanitarian medical care to medically underserved Pacific Islanders. Patients are referred from the islands using PIHCP’s Internet-based referral system. Patient acceptance into the project is based on medical need, the capability of caring for the patient at TAMC, and the unique GME opportunities the case will provide. If approved their costs for travel to Tripler and per diem are covered; if not, the specialty provider will usually offer recommendations for treatment to the referring provider.

Other programs using telehealth technology to facilitate treatment are the LEAN Healthy Lifestyle and Smoking Cessation programs, digital Echocardiography, tele-pharmaceutical consultations to a satellite pharmacy at the NEX and tele-diabetic groups.

PRMC Telehealth Office continues to support telehealth programs and identify opportunities to exploit the use of telehealth to extend access to specialty services to locations across the Western Pacific. Under Development are tele-pain, PCMH TH programs, tele-bariatric screening and support, Better Depression follow-up, and expansion of GME and CME programs.

Spark M. Matsunaga Veterans
Affairs Medical Center
Telephone 433-0600
Honolulu VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
459 Patterson Road
Honolulu, HI 96819
www.va.gov/hawaii 

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Pacific Islands Health Care System is centered in Honolulu, Hawaii, and consists of the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center, the VA Community Living Center, and community-based outpatient clinics located on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Guam and American Samoa.

The Spark M. Matsunaga VA Ambulatory Care Center is located adjacent to Tripler Army Medical Center and provides outpatient primary medical care, mental health, pharmacy, dental care and specialized outpatient care. Treatment programs include day care, geriatric evaluation and management, as well as several medical specialty clinics staffed by VA and University of Hawaii physicians. Many of these services are located at Tripler AMC as part of a VA-DoD Joint Venture.

Long-term and transitional rehabilitative care services are provided by a VA-operated, 60-bed Community Living Center, located on the Tripler grounds.

Besides treatment in a hospital setting, the Center provides extensive geriatric care through outpatient programs, including contract adult day care, homemaker health aide, home-based primary care, and community nursing home placement.

For the latest information about Honolulu VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VAPacificIslands.
Resources for Veterans & Families
Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov

Federal Benefits Booklet for Veterans,
Dependents and Survivors
www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 

Veterans Crisis Line
(800) 273-TALK (8255), Press 1
www.veteranscrisisline.net 

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Vets in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Call (800) 273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a TEXT MESSAGE to 838255 to receive support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
(877) 4AID-VET (424-3838)
www.va.gov/HOMELESS/NationalCallCenter.asp

Online Chat support is also available.

VA Caregiver Support Line
(855) 260-3274 (National),
(808) 433-0371 (Local Coordinator)
www.caregiver.va.gov 

VBA – Veterans Benefits Administration
(Compensation & Pension, Education, Home Loans, Vocational Rehabilitation, Life Insurance, etc.)
National Call Center: (800) 827-1000
www.vba.va.gov/VBA 

Make The Connection
www.Maketheconnection.net/veterans

Connects Veterans and their friends and family members with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their lives—you can customize this site to your specific needs.

Military One Source/Wounded
Warrior “Veteran” Resource Center
(800) 342-9647
www.Militaryonesource.mil

National Center for PTSD
www.ptsd.va.gov 

The National Center for PTSD mission is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America’s Vets through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders from seven Centers across the country.

Goals/Objectives of the National Centers for PTSD include:
Promote improved assessment and treatment of PTSD
Advance the scientific understanding of PTSD
Advance PTSD education for clinicians, researchers, and Vets through development and info dissemination
Support the global war on terrorism through collaborations with the Department of Defense
Advance VA’s emergency medical response capability
Provide consultation to VA’s leadership and other agencies on a continuing basis and during national emergencies

National Center for PTSD – Pacific Islands Division
3375 Koapaka Street, Suite I-560,
Honolulu HI, 96819
Phone: (808) 566-1546, Fax: (808) 566-1885
Contact: Linda Beauregard-Axelson, (808) 566-1547

Vet Center Information
Vet Centers offer a wide range of services to assist with a successful transition from military to civilian life at no cost to Service members or Veterans or their family members. Services include:
Individual and group counseling
Marital and family counseling
Bereavement counseling
Medical and benefits referrals
Employment counseling

(877) War-Vets
1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387) is an around-the-clock confidential call center where combat Vets and their families can call to talk about their military experience or other issues about readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Vets. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.

Vet Center Directory:
www2.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter_flsh.asp 

Hilo Vet Center
70 Lanihuli Street, Suite 102
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 969-3833 or (877) 927-8387
Fax: (808) 969-2025

Honolulu Vet Center:
1680 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite F-3
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 973-8387 or (877) 927-8387
Fax: (808) 973-5295

Kailua-Kona Vet Center
Hale Kui Plaza, Suite 207
73-4976 Kamanu Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 329-0574 or (877) 927-8387

West Oahu Vet Center
885 Kamokila Boulevard, Unit 105
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 674-2414 or (877) 927-8387

Kauai Vet Center
3-3367 Kuhio Hwy., Suite 101
Lihue, HI 96766-1061
Phone: (808) 246-1163 or (877) 927-8387
Fax: (808) 246-4625

Maui Vet Center
35 Lunalilo Street, Suite 101
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 242-8557 or (877) 927-8387
Fax: (808) 242-8559

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
Main Number: (808) 433-0600