AUGUSTA, Ga.--(May 22, 2009) Deanie Dempsey, the wife of Gen. Martin Dempsey, commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, made the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center active duty rehabilitation unit her first stop on her May 18 visit.
Dempsey met patients and hospital staff and learned about the unique partnership between the VA and Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
"One of the tricky things was getting both computer systems working together," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw, DDEAMC commanding general, who explained a little about the collaboration between the two usually separate entities.
Dr. David Travillion, a VA physician, introduced Dempsey to several of his patients including one of his newest.
"He had surgery on Thursday and came to us on Friday," said Travillion of the patient who had knee surgery and was receiving his rehab at the VA.
"We do have an orthopedic team at the VA, but our active duty come from Eisenhower," Travillion explained.
Travillion showed Dempsey some of the devices used in treatment including a Wii gaming system.
Games such as snowboarding and golf help in therapy and other programs are designed specifically for rehab, he said.
"It's been really nice," he said. "The system was a gift from the community."
Dempsey also visited the blind rehab unit and the pool at the VA.
From there, she returned to Fort Gordon where she met with Family readiness group senior spouses as well as Army Community Service staff. She was also briefed on Army Family Action Plan.
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