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VA Mid-Atlantic Chapter News and
Information
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North Carolina News
by Joseph Wright, Jr. |
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The Dreaded Safety
Pin |
MS Education Conference
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Keeping You Informed |
Health Fair
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Upcoming Events
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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Support Group Newsletter
Publication Date: April 15, 2010 |
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Your Spinal Cord Injury or Disease (SCI/D)
Coordinators at the North Carolina VA
Medical Centers are listed below. |
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VAMC |
SCI-D Program Coordinator |
Veteran Liaison Officer |
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Asheville |
Inez Whiteside
(828) 2998-7911, ext 1+5384384
Fax: (828) 299-5804 |
Joseph
Wright Jr.
SCI/D Volunteer
Officer
for Fayetteville VAMC,
is located
in Bldg. T41.
(910) 482-5157
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Durham |
Christy Knight,
MSW, LCSW
Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator
919-286-0411 ext. 6068
1-888-878-6890 exr.6068
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National
Service Officers
(Winston-Salem)
Mr. Bill Pack, PVA Senior NSO
1-800-795-3622 |
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Fayetteville |
Mr. Ryan Hylton, MSW, LCSW
Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator
(800) 771-6106, ext. 7642
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Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter
1-800-852-7639 |
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Salisbury |
Alice
Gatewood
(800) 469-8262, ext. 3079 |
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“The Dreaded Safety Pin” Why do they
have to do that?
By Jan Prentice PA-C
Durham VAMC
Getting pricked with a pin isn’t high on a list of fun things to do. Eating
chocolate cake – now that’s much higher up the list. So I asked the VA why the
Healthcare Providers in Spinal Cord want to stick me a pin in so many places –
about once a year. And why isn’t one time enough?
It turns out what they call the “Strength & Sensation” exam tells them more
about my spinal cord injury than any other test. It’s the most important test
they do.
The American Spinal Cord Injury Association has mapped areas on the skin called
dermatomes – and each of these areas on the skin is connected to a different
nerve pathway which travels through the spinal cord. As the test measures your
response to both LIGHT TOUCHES and PIN PRICKS on the 52 different dermatomes,
the trained Healthcare Professional gets an extremely clear knowledge of the
level of spinal cord injury – to help them plan an appropriate course of action
which will help you. Perhaps even more important, since spinal cord patients
have unique problems that can happen to them over time – having the “Strength &
Sensation” test periodically (and comparing it with the previous results), helps
in detecting improvements or concerns regarding changes in your injury level.
The test is truly remarkable in the detail of assessing your health. You can
read more online, by searching using key words from this short article. It is
quite interesting how reactions to stimulus of each dermatome relate to
corresponding areas of the spinal cord.
So now when the dreaded safety pin comes out, I just smile – knowing how
important the exam is to my health assessment. And I secretly make plans to
reward myself afterward in the cafeteria – with some chocolate cake. Uh oh.
Chocolate Cake. Maybe our next article should be on diabetes. Is nothing sacred?
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MS Education Conference
By Joe Wright & Theresa Johnson
The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society held
its 2010 Education Conference March 27, 2010 at Cape Fear Valley Education
Center in Fayetteville, NC.
Attending the conference from the Fayetteville Veterans Administration Medical
Center were Spinal Cord Injury /Disease (SCI/D) Coordinator Mr. Ryan Hylton and
SCI/D Nurse Practitioner Debra Gross. Theresa Johnson, MS group leader, and
Paralyzed Veterans of America Volunteer Liaison Officer Joseph Wright were also
at the conference.
SCI/D Support Group and Virginia Mid-Atlantic, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
members, Tony Robinson, Sandra Sifford, Sonja Cleveland, Steven Smith, Miranda
Shaw, and Cheryl M. Baker, as well as their family members were attendees.
The chapter showed its commitment in support of its members and the education
process by buying the ticket for each of its member, immediate family member and
caretaker to attend the conference.
The yearly education conference provides for a great opportunity to learn about
MS research, studies, and other subjects related to MS. It is also a good time
for people with MS to fellowship with one another.
Thanks to the volunteers who helped to make the event possible, our members, the
Fayetteville SCI/D Team and the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the MS Society
for all you do.
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Keeping You Informed
By Bill Pack
Giving Back to Vets is the title of an article in the May/June Issue of the AARP
magazine. The article is interesting for many reasons, but most significant to
me is all the effort made to get the word out to veterans about the benefits and
healthcare they may be qualified to receive.
As your National Service Officer, I’m always concerned about those veterans who
may not know about benefits and healthcare issues. Some of you may be familiar
with the benefits mentioned in the article, all of which may be found in the
Veterans Administration Guide to Benefits. It certainly helps to see articles in
periodicals like AARP. Then we know that a wider audience may learn about or be
reminded of benefits that may be available to them.
If you will, please take the time to read the article. The SCI/D Support Group
has limited copies of the magazines on hand. Please contact us at 910 482-5157
for a copy.
Pass it on to a friend! Help get the word out.
I am here for you and ready to answer any of your questions concerning benefits
you may be entitled to.
We, the Paralyzed Veterans of America National Service Officers, stand firm in
our commitment to you our members.
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Health Fair
By Joe Wright and Ace Cruz
Annually the Fayetteville VA Medical Center hosts a health fair. This year the
event was held April 1, 2010. The health fair is designed to increase health
awareness by providing health screening, activities, materials, demonstrations,
and information.
Participating organizations and services included: Fayetteville Veterans Center,
dental service, diabetes service, Telehealth, Women Veterans Health Program, The
Virginia Mid-Atlantic Paralyzed Veterans of America, Spinal Cord Injury, and
much more.
The health fair is one of the most informative health care activities there is.
If you missed it, mark your calendar for next spring. In the meantime, always
know that several other organizations in our community that conduct similar
activities.
Just look in your local newspapers, city guides etc.
SCI/D Coordinator (R) Mr. Ryan Hylton discusses SCI/D healthcare progress and
studies at the Fayetteville’s VAMC’s Health Fair with SCI/D patient veterans Mr.
Jerry Fitzhugh (L) and Mr. Ace Cruz. |
Upcoming Events
Event: Cape Fear Disabled Sportsmen Fishing Tournament
Date & Time: May 14, 2010, 6:00 a.m. until
Location: Kure Beach, NC
POC: (910) 264-8397
Event: MS Walk
Date & Time: May 15, 2010
Location: Honeycutt Park
POC: Theresa Johnson, (910) 245-4259
Event: 24th National Golden Age Games
Date & Time: May 26-31, 2010
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
POC:
www.veteransgoaldenagegames.va.gov
Event: SCI/D Support Group Meeting
Date & Time: May 27, 2010
Location: Fayetteville VAMC, Bldg 45
POC: (910) 482-5157 PVA, VLO/VAVS
Event: SCI/D Support Group Meeting
Date & Time: May 27, 2010
Location: Durham, VAMC
GRECC Conference room, 3rd Floor
Room # C3012
POC: James Mayo
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