Prostate Cancer -- DoD dismantling key Pathology Center

Oldest Known Photo of WRGH

Two years ago on a lovely spring day, my world turned upside down. Routine physical, get to the part all guys find uncomfortable and the show stops! My general practitioner says something doesn't feel right. He had taken my pulse and blood pressure earlier; I wager it went off the charts. Next step is a biopsy; results bad. Next step Urologic Oncology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. Let us just say it was an "interesting" year and a half of combined military/private medical treatment. Both were top notch, now it appears that nature will have to find another means to my demise.

I am optimistic with a touch of smugness because of a prestigious medical organization - The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, (AFIP), established in 1862. This world-class pinnacle of science earned its reputation as a national treasure by virtue of being the first internationally recognized source of sub specialty expertise, with its expert medical second opinions for patients, surgeons, and pathologists both nationally and internationally. In my case, the physician at AFIP saw an area in question, because she is able to examine the prostate in multiple slices that most private institutions cannot afford. This meticulous detail gave my medical team a heads up to treat me. The failed Bush Regime wanted to outsource this activity, evidently saving money trumps good military medical care that, by the way, is cheaper than from a contractor. Deeply personal to me, it should concern DoD also. While I am a retired guy for them to "practice on", the Walter Reed waiting room was filled with active duty and their dependents. This is about the soldier.

The AFIP directly impacts modern medicine, particularly surgical pathology, by refining tumor diagnosis, classification and prognosis, leading to increased understanding of effective patient treatment. Many of the AFIP research studies have had a significant impact on treatment and patient outcomes and have led to the development of newer, more effective therapeutic regimens.

Do you have young children? Are you aware that very young children no longer take aspirin? The Reye Syndrome research came from AFIP studies and data, which led to the Food and Drug Administration decision. Are you aware of record high combat survival rates for our wounded? Body armor and ejection seat studies came from AFIP research data bases. Also, did you know that the AFIP recently identified the strain of influenza virus that devasted the world in 1918 and may replicate in the future? What all this and much more really means is this institution sees the big picture and both saves and improves lives. Guess what? You got it - the failed Bush regime placed it on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list. Last year, Congress ordered that from those ashes a new improved AFIP be created called the Joint Pathology Center (JPC), which is at this time a poor substitute for this irreplaceable institution.

To quote a career, senior DoD healthcare official:

"The world class Armed Forces Institute of Pathology was thrown on the funeral pyre of the BRAC in spite of its invaluable service to the members of the Armed Forces and all of the citizens of the United States of America and individuals around the world. "

The AFIP is the benchmark for the JPC. Expectations are high; but the JPC is seen as the "replacement" in this field by all interested parties. As constituted, this will never be. The AFIP receives and processes requests for consultations from a wide-variety of both military and civilian sources! The need for the AFIP consultation services is further substantiated with the following information. In 2006 and 2007, the AFIP changed more than 70% of over 100,000 contributors' diagnoses! Using just one month, AFIP reviews resulted in change of treatment for more than 30% of patients. Guess what? These are the very labs DoD wants to outsource to civilian labs at far greater costs.

I know this is a dry subject unless you are as intimately involved as I am. This is why DoD healthcare personnel provided data to me and input to this blog. However, my very intimacy allows me to understand what a treasure is being sacrificed on the altar of private enterprise for zero gain. The Joint Pathology Center should be reviewed and reorganized. Now it appears that remnants of the failed Bush regime are trying to ram its agenda through the Obama Administration before their people are in place to provide direction and oversight. If the AFIP must close, I am confident that the Obama Administration will provide a new direction for the JPC. But I am happy to point out what is happening at DoD while their team is coming together. The United States cannot afford to lose AFIP, the nation's only independent second opinion source.

Comments

[GENERALBEE]

HI, HAL, HOPE YOU ARE DOING OKAY. I HAVE BEEN BIZZY, TRYING TO MOVE FROM THE OUTER SHELF OF NC, LIKE YOU SAID--- NOTHING HERE.

I TOLD MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND, FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA. THE STORY OF YOU AND THE NON HUMMER THE OTHER DAY. SHE LOVED IT. I SAID THAT YOU WERE QUITE THE CHARACTER, BUT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THE ELECTION. THOSE PEOPLE DIDNT VOTE IN PA.

ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU THAT I WAS THINKING OF YOU, AND HOPE YOU AND YOURS ARE DOING WELL , IN THE HONDA. GENERAL A. BEE

[LawyerMama]

Hal - Would you mind if I used the first paragraph of your post here with a link to the rest? (Giving you credit, of course.) More people need to be aware of this!

Steph

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

Not at all you can even leave the credit out if it makes life easier. Thank you.