DOD portal centralizes health info for wounded vets

The Defense Department has launched a new Web portal designed to help service members and their families find health information and programs available to them.The www.WarriorCare.mil portal has links to health-related programs and resources offered by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, DOD and Veterans Affairs Department. The site also provides access to the Wounded Warrior Resource Center, which offers information and other resources, and the Compensation and Benefits Handbook for injured or seriously ill service members.The new portal is part of an effort to improve the medical treatment of service members and “make it easier for troops and their families to benefit from all the assistance available to them,” said Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates designated November as Warrior Care Month.Later this month, DOD officials plan to launch an online directory that will offer information on education, health care, benefits, training, transportation and housing for injured service members and their families. Users will be able to search the site by state and type of service.In addition, DOD and VA have established an interagency program office to improve the sharing of computerized health data between the departments.