Charlottesville, Va. brain injury center for veterans shuttered

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Rising costs and low patient volume have prompted the federal government to close the Charlottesville location of a facility that treated military members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center released its last patient at its city location in May, and most of its staff left last month, a spokeswoman confirmed. The center, which was located on East High Street, had been in the area since 1999.

The Brain Injury Center is part of the U.S. militarys health system and is component of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Because the facilities were unique and intensive, they handled a small number of patients and incurred high costs compared to other facilities, the centers website states. The government also closed a similar facility in Johnston, Pa., last month.

University of Virginia Health System Dr. Jeffrey Barth, who served as the centers primary neuropsychology consultant, said he was disappointed to see the center close.

Our job at [the Brain Injury Center] was to help to normalize these folks to introduce them [back] to daily activities, said Barth.

The center employed 26 contracted staff members who filled about 18 full-time equivalent positions, said Kathleen Taylor, an Arlington-based spokeswoman for the centers parent organization.

This program focused on community reintegration activities and targeted skills necessary for return to duty/military service and community reintegration, Taylor said by email. It offered interactive therapy programs designed to address the individual needs and goals of each patient.

In addition to neurological concerns, Barth said many brain injury patients also have cognitive impairments and mental health issues. Barth said simultaneous treatment is the most effective approach.

Barth said activities that a healthy person might take for granted like eating in a crowded restaurant or entering a dark movie theater with strangers can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking experiences for survivors of brain injuries incurred while in combat.

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Charlottesville, Va. brain injury center for veterans shuttered