Wounded soldiers get help from Alabama native

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

An Army physician from Alabama says helping establish a unit to improve treatment for wounded soldiers was the most challenging-and rewarding-experience of his military career.That unit is known as the Warrior Transition Brigade and has been operating for more than a year. It was established after reports of bad living conditions and bureaucratic snarls experienced by soldiers who were outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Lt. Col. Michael Bell, a Tuscaloosa native and father of three, was assigned the task of improving Walter Reed's outpatient services.

Bell, 43, told The Birmingham News he wanted to get involved after seeing stories of soldiers receiving inadequate outpatient treatment at Walter Reed.

The public demanded improvements after Washington Post articles in February 2007 detailed decrepit and dangerous conditions in a building housing outpatients, and bureaucratic and military hassles that wounded soldiers faced in getting needed care.

"When I saw those stories, I really felt that I needed to try and get involved," Bell said.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_helpingwounded2_112808/