The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a national leader in supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, is launching an important new effort to serve our military community. The Fund will design and build the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health issues.
NICoE will be a 72,000 square foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus at Bethesda, Maryland, adjacent to the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with close access to the Uniformed Services University, the National Institutes of Health, and the Veterans Health Administration. NICoE will be designed to provide the most advanced services for advanced diagnostics, initial treatment plan and family education, introduction to therapeutic modalities, referral and reintegration support for military personnel and veterans with TBI, post traumatic stress disorder, and/or complex psychological health issues. Further, NICoE will conduct research, test new protocols and provide comprehensive training and education to patients, providers and families while maintaining ongoing telehealth follow-up care across the country and throughout the world.
Ground was broken on the Center on June 5, 2008 with completion anticipated in Spring of 2010. Upon completion, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will transfer NICoE to the Department of Defense for staffing and ongoing operation.
The Fisher House Foundation (
www.fisherhouse.org) will construct one new 21-room Fisher House adjacent to NICoE, to house the families of patients. Family participation in care will be a key component of the NICoE program.