Armed forces ombud calls for care of PSTD patients when staff changes.OTTAWA -- Military ombudsman ombudsman (äm`bədzmən) [Swed.,=agent or representative], public official appointed to deal with individual complaints against government acts. Andre Marin called on the Canadian Forces to do a better job of ensuring patient care when caregiver care·giv·er n. 1. An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability. 2. staffing changes are made. The question arose because of the closing of the Halifax Operational Trauma and Stress Support Centre. Approximately 60 patients at the centre were left without a clear plan for their continued care, the Ombudsman found. Their doctor, a civilian psychiatrist psychiatrist /psy·chi·a·trist/ (si-ki´ah-trist) a physician who specializes in psychiatry. psy·chi·a·trist n. A physician who specializes in psychiatry. on contract, had been treating armed forces members suffering from operational stress injuries, such as post traumatic stress disorder Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A disorder that occurs among survivors of severe environmental stress such as a tornado, an airplane crash, or military combat. Symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, and nightmares. , when her contract was suddenly terminated. There was also a significant delay in informing her patients as to what had happened, which led to considerable confusion and concern among her patients, some of whom were in a very fragile condition. The Ombudsman intervention A procedure used in a lawsuit by which the court allows a third person who was not originally a party to the suit to become a party, by joining with either the plaintiff or the defendant. ensured that these patients continued to receive treatment, including treatment from the psychiatrist who had been terminated, if they so wished. Patients told the Ombudsman's investigators that the lack of information about the status of their care had eroded e·rode v. e·rod·ed, e·rod·ing, e·rodes v.tr. 1. To wear (something) away by or as if by abrasion: Waves eroded the shore. 2. To eat into; corrode. their trust in the military to take care of them. Marin urges the military to make a policy of considering the impact of staffing changes on patients in order to avoid similar situations from occurring. The Ombudsman's report recommends improvements in dealing with workplace conflicts between civilian contractors and military personnel working side by side at the Halifax OTSSC. He recommends that contractors working closely with military personnel be enabled to bring complaints to the Ombudsman about matters that directly affect the welfare of military personnel. 613-719-9203 View the Ombudsman's report Visit communityaction.ca |
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