The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 43, which urges Congress to appropriate funds for the telemedical diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in military service members and veterans at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

This resolution, sponsored by Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Representative Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), aims to promote the use of better, more efficient technology in Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Many traumatic brain injuries suffered by military service members and veterans remain undiagnosed. This often occurs because many Veterans Affairs medical facilities lack the resources to offer sufficient access to physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist.

“It is vitally important that we are offering the best medical care possible to our veterans and military service members,” said Rep. Johnson. “It is unacceptable that Veterans Affairs medical facilities are forced to operate while underfunded, therefore causing them to be unable to provide adequate medical care to some of our society’s most deserving members.”

This resolution urges Congress to appropriate funds toward the installation of video teleconference systems in 200 Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, which would provide military service members and veterans with timely and cost-effective access to physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists for the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury.