Treating war’s casualties

We listened with great interest to a proposal that state and federal lawmakers are pitching that would add the Northeast Center for Special Care to the government”™s network of facilities treating soldiers returning from war with traumatic brain injuries.

But like any venture involving government and private industry, it does not come without controversy.

But in this case, the controversy is borne from the Kingston-based rehabilitation facility itself.

It seems that several years back it was cited for code violations by the state Department of Health and the federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Last year, the facility paid a $1,000 fine to the Health Department for five violations cited in an inspection.

Facility administrator Anthony Marmo told staff writer Lynn Woods in a front-page article this week that the center has corrected the problems. The Health Department confirmed the facility is indeed in compliance and has no current violations.

One of the area lawmakers who is supporting the initiative to set aside 20 beds for returning veterans who have suffered brain trauma is Ulster County Legislator Brian Cahill. He said by being treated at the Kingston facility, the vets would be closer to home, rather than traveling to say Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., which is beset with all kinds of problems.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer”™s office says there are 1,500 current-war veterans who hail from the region.

As long as the Northeast Center for Special Care abides by Health Department regulations, we see no reason why it shouldn”™t be allowed to treat veterans coming back from overseas who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries.