VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

The West Los Angeles Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Polytrauma team members

The VA West Los Angeles (WLA) Polytrauma Network Site (PNS) will host a formal grand opening on April 19, 2011 to celebrate their recently renovated clinic. The grand opening, which will include guest speakers and an open house, presents an opportunity for Veterans and VA employees alike to learn more about the valuable work the Polytrauma team performs and how the team’s synergistic efforts enable a patient-centered approach to rehabilitative care for Veterans.  

A division of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services Department, the PNS offers Veterans who may be suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and/or physical injuries from combat a team of providers and therapists from diverse disciplines that work together in developing and managing interdisciplinary rehabilitation treatments. The PNS team includes a physiatrist, a social worker, a neuropsychologist, a vocational rehabilitation counselor, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a physical therapist, a recreational therapist, a blind rehabilitation specialist, a nurse educator, and a nurse case manager.

Removing stress barriers is a large part of the PNS approach, as evidenced in the non-traditional interior of the clinic. “We wanted to avoid the traditional clinical feel of a hospital,” said Joanne Rongavilla-Lin, Polytrauma nurse educator. The lobby is spacious, well lit, with comfortable furniture, and includes a play space for children.  “A lot of our Veterans have young families that they bring with them when they visit us, so having a place for their children to play makes it easier.”

Additional features designed to accommodate these Veterans include screening rooms that aren’t as visually sterile as traditional hospital rooms, again incorporating interior designs with warm coffee colors and natural materials to create a relaxed atmosphere. The PNS also includes a conference room where Veterans can take classes and use computers.

The PNS is on the first floor of building 304, taking over a space formerly dedicated to employee health. The grand opening event will begin at 1:00pm with an hour long formal presentation on the outdoor pavilion adjacent to building 304, weather permitting. The presentation will include a brief history of polytrauma, a presentation on TBI, PTSD, and polytrauma, and an introduction to the members of the PNS team.

Following the presentation, everyone is invited to participate in a self-guided tour of the PNS from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Providers will be on hand to answer questions and make brief presentations on how each team member contributes to the care of Veterans. Veterans who have experienced the benefits of the PNS approach first-hand will also be available to discuss their experiences.

We hope to see you at the grand opening April 19th!

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