May 17, 2011 Marines begin reintegration through Air Force Deployment Transition Center More than 100 Marines arrived by air here April 27 for a brief stay at the Air Force Deployment Transition Center.On their way home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, the Marines of the 1st Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., are the first members from another
May 9, 2011 First-Ever Aortic Procedure Performed at LRMC The international and collaborative nature of medicine at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center resulted in a first-ever procedure that also prevented the need for open heart-bypass surgery on April 1.Dr. Paul B. Haser, a vascular surgeon from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert
May 9, 2011 The Million Veteran Program: VA's genomics game-changer launches nationwide An unprecedented Veterans Affairs research program that promises to advance the sophisticated science of genomics goes national May 5, according to the VA's top official. "It is my honor," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, "to join with so many fellow veterans in keeping VA at the
May 9, 2011 Registry yields life-saving treatment lessons A registry established six years ago to track casualty information from Iraq and Afghanistan is providing valuable data that's saving wounded warriors' lives, the commander of the theater hospital here said.Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Guillermo Tellez, commander of the Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint
May 9, 2011 'Real Warrior' finds path to physical, emotional healing Black-and-white photos of Vietnam-era veterans line the wall at a Veterans Affairs center. Some are smiling and others are gazing at a distant point, but in all, an unseen light catches the emotion in their eyes.The photographer, now retired Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall, a veteran of the more recent
May 5, 2011 Proposal would save $3.2 billion in health care costs The Defense Department's proposal to reform the TRICARE health plan and the military health system would save at least $3.2 billion between 2012 and 2016, the Pentagon's chief financial officer told Congress yesterday. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee,
May 5, 2011 Air Guard assists critical-care evacuations Minutes after takeoff here, Col. (Dr.) Charles Chappuis jumped to his feet aboard a C-17 Globemaster III to check on Army Spc. Adam Castagna, one of three critical patients under his care being transported to the U.S. for advanced medical care.Dr. Chappuis is the surgeon for a three-person Air
April 28, 2011 TRICARE supports DEA's National Medication Take Back Day National Medication Take Back Day is being observed April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at many police departments, universities, hospitals and military installations across America. This one-day event, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, provides a venue for people to safely dispose of
April 28, 2011 Children's reading program lauded in new 'Joining Forces' initiative An 81st Medical Group pediatrician was quoted in an April 12 "Reach Out and Read" program news release announcing First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden unveiling the "Joining Forces" initiative to support military families at the White House.According to the release, "Joining Forces aims to
April 28, 2011 Catching zzz's does the body good The 313th Air Expeditionary Wing is made up of Airmen who came from bases across the United States, often at a moment's notice.Airman 1st Class Patrick Garred, a crew chief with the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh, Pa., said the trip across multiple time zones wasn't too difficult for him since
April 28, 2011 Wounded warrior returns to serve Air Force Gunar Moschner knows all too well the pain and anxiety that follows a devastating combat-related injury, but he also knows help is available through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program.Thanks to the program -- and his own perseverance - Mr. Moschner is once again serving with the Air Force.His
April 28, 2011 Service members support Arctic Care in rural Alaska The Alaska National Guard is joining forces with active-duty and Reserve units across the nation to provide support for Operation Arctic Care April 15 through 30.Led this year by deployment support officials from the Army Reserve's 807th Medical Command, Arctic Care is an annual two-week mission
April 27, 2011 Air Force evacuation team carries wounded warriors home By many accounts, 20-year-old Army Spc. Dustin Morrison is a living miracle and a testament to the military medical system that's getting medical care to wounded warriors and moving them to progressively advanced levels of care faster than ever before.Specialist Morrison, an Iowa Army National
April 26, 2011 Total force brings aeromedical evacuation training to the Democratic Republic of the Congo A two week medical exercise, in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and U.S. Air Forces Africa, focusing on aeromedical evacuation kicked off here at the Centre Superior Militaire Academy on April 25.MEDLITE 11 is an exercise that will improve the readiness of
April 26, 2011 Wilford Hall hosts multi-service ultrasound course Providers from across the U.S. attended a joint-service ultrasound course at Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 14 and 15.The course's formal title, "Current Concepts in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2011," was offered to 45 Air Force, Army and Navy medical personnel."Similar courses have been
April 26, 2011 Smartphone app helps troops, vets manage stress Veterans dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can turn to their smartphones for help any time with the "PTSD Coach" application created by the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments. "This is about giving veterans and service members the help they earned when and where they need
April 26, 2011 New CPR training wants you to switch your ABCs Most people who have gone through CPR training remember being taught the A-B-C's, or Airway-Breathing-Circulation method.The American Heart Association, however, is suggesting people change the sequence and switch to CAB, or Circulation-Airway-Breathing."Changing from ABC to CAB will save more
April 26, 2011 Drug test Administer meets new people daily For Airmen and civilians at Travis and throughout the Air Force, a urinalysis test is arguably the most dreaded event. "The hardest part about coming in for a urinalysis test is doing it with a smile," said Edmund Diaz, 60th Medical Operations Squadron drug testing program administrative manager.
April 26, 2011 81st MDG clinical research lab wins poster award for diabetes research Members of the 81st Medical Group Clinical Research Laboratory were recently honored for their work on a joint research study involving the medical group and Mississippi State University.The ongoing research involves diagnostic markers for diabetes mellitus and received the Top Research Poster Award
April 26, 2011 Intensive care unit nursing patients back to life The beeping of heart rate monitors and dripping of intravenous saline solutions play in the backdrop of the Air Force Theater Hospital, as nurses and technicians check on patients.The base hosts the largest military hospital in Iraq, where all severe medical or trauma related emergencies are routed