July 31, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: ADR for Wounded Warriors

Washington, D.C. -- The National Mediation Board is proud to announce the culmination of its work with the Army Medical Command to help provide the best care possible for wounded warriors and their families. The NMB Alternative Dispute Resolution program continues to be a world-wide leader in the application of technology to dispute resolution. Using the Board's online dispute resolution expertise, the agency worked with the Army Medical Command, the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution, and the House Sub-committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, chaired by Rep. John Tierney, to develop an Ombudsman program and an online Ombudsman Portal.

The NMB's Director of ADR Services participated in a public presentation on July 10, 2008, with leaders from the Army Medical Command and the Staff Director from the House Sub-committee, at which the Army Medical Command Ombudsman program was unveiled and the innovative online portal announced.

The NMB approached the Army after a series of articles in the Washington Post and committee hearings regarding problems with wounded warrior care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As a result of their joint work, the Army Ombudsman program has been instituted across the entire Army Medical Command structure inside the United States, and will soon be expanded to Army installations in Europe.

For more information about the National Mediation Board's involvement in the creation of the program, contact:

Daniel Rainey, Director, ADR Services
202-692-5000
rainey@nmb.gov

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