Jan. 15, 2010 Toolkit helps answer servicemembers' health care questions One in five servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder, according to officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.To help servicemembers affected by a behavioral or other
Dec. 22, 2009 Aviano Air Base hospital receives ENERGY STAR rating The Aviano Air Base hospital has received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The base hospital is the first U.S. facility overseas to receive this distinction, and joins 96 other hospitals in the
Dec. 22, 2009 Doctors perform groundbreaking surgery at Walter Reed Doctors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the University of Miami collaborated to perform the first pancreas islet cell transplant Thanksgiving Day on an Airman whose pancreas was injured so severely in Afghanistan that it had to be removed.While serving with an Army unit in Afghanistan,
Dec. 22, 2009 Traumatic stress response team helps Fort Hood victims An Air Force medical team trained in helping people recover from traumatic events returned from Fort Hood, Texas, after responding to the Nov. 5 shootings, which left 13 people dead and dozens injured.The Traumatic Stress Response team, led by Maj. Sheila Beville, a 59th Mental Health Squadron
Dec. 22, 2009 A holiday message from Lt. Gen. Green and Chief Cole As we conclude 60 years of Air Force medicine in 2009, it is time to honor where we've been as we look ahead. The Air Force Medical Service played pivotal roles in early space exploration, contingency responses and caring for our nation's warriors. Our efforts have preserved freedom and fostered
Dec. 17, 2009 Air Force's largest NICU staff cares for tiniest patients In the midst of life saving machines, sensors and IVs is a swaddled, sleeping baby girl who weighs little more than 2 pounds. Forty times a minute a ventilator pumps about a teaspoon of air into her tiny lungs to keep her alive. Each breath is closely monitored by Cheryl Collicott, the baby's
Dec. 17, 2009 Doctor able to help on flights "Is there a doctor on board?!" This is a plea an 81st Medical Group surgeon has responded to on three occasions while traveling aboard passenger aircraft.Maj. (Dr.) Yekaterina Karpitskaya's most recent in-flight emergency occurred Sept. 28. The major, an orthopedic surgeon with the 81st Surgical
Dec. 17, 2009 Retired first sergeant leaves special legacy When Senior Master Sgt. Clayton French was honored at his Nov. 20 retirement ceremony, most of the guests in attendance learned the 81st Medical Operations Squadron first sergeant would leave a significant legacy to the service to which he devoted more than 28 years of his life: Sergeant French had
Dec. 17, 2009 USAFSAM: The Air Force's medical educators Flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists, public health and bioenvironmental officers, flight nurses and enlisted specialists - every year, the Air Force and its partners need thousands of skilled medical professionals to fill critical positions.Where does the Air Force find enough people with the
Dec. 17, 2009 Medical logistics: Lives in the balance Surgical and survival records are being broken by doctors and nurses at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here daily - but without critical supplies, medications and equipment, the skilled surgeons and caring nurses can't continue to do their job of saving lives.That's where the masterful work of the
Dec. 17, 2009 USAF Nurse Transition Program celebrates first anniversary with University Hospital Cincinnati Fourteen Air Force nurses participated in the fifth graduation ceremony for the Nurse Transition Program Friday, Dec. 4 at University Hospital in Cincinnati. The ceremony marked the completion of the first year of the program.University Hospital Cincinnati and the U.S. Air Force established the
Dec. 17, 2009 Iron-distance triathlon tests colonel's mettle "I never thought of it as being crazy," said Lt. Col. James Barber, commander of the 42nd Medical Support Squadron, of his recent completion of his first iron-distance triathlon, a combination of running, swimming and biking for 140.6 miles of endurance-challenging sport.Colonel Barber took up the
Dec. 17, 2009 Air Force colonel beats cancer, soars high Col. Michael Stapleton, 49th Fighter Wing Operations Group commander at Holloman AFB, N.M., has come a long way since being diagnosed with cancer in 2006."I was diagnosed with cancer when I was the 43rd Fighter Squadron commander at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida," said Colonel Stapleton. "I had
Dec. 17, 2009 New device provides quick emergency evacuation Wilford Hall Medical Center has purchased special devices for each inpatient bed, designed to reduce risk of injury to patients and staff and to expedite evacuations during emergency situations.The new emergency evacuation devices, or sleds, cocoon the patient and mattress together, allowing medical
Dec. 17, 2009 Military ophthalmologists receive Distinguished Service Award Military ophthalmologists from all branches of service were recently presented a Distinguished Service Award in appreciation for their ongoing service and vision care contributions.The award was presented by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and recognized all military ophthalmologists, past and
Dec. 17, 2009 Support improves for families with special needs Officials are working to boost the resources and support the Defense Department's Exceptional Family Member Program provides to military families with special needs. "Most people are aware of EFMP as a mandatory enrollment program, but we're working to raise awareness of the family support we can
Dec. 17, 2009 59th Medical Wing receives Air Force Outstanding Unit Award The 59th Medical Wing was recently awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009."Even though the 59th Medical Wing has now won this award several years in a row, no one should think for a moment that these are automatic," said Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Tom
Dec. 4, 2009 Health care gains recognition as bridge to stability A theory gaining momentum among counterinsurgency and military medical experts is that the health of a nation's people affects the health of a nation. While no formal study has confirmed a causal connection, evidence culled from U.S. commanders as well as American allies and adversaries, suggests a
Dec. 4, 2009 Wounded warrior program continues assisting Airmen and their families Air Force leaders remain committed to the service's top investments: Airmen and their families. In support of a Defense Department initiative to return wounded warriors to productive military service or civilian life, Air Force officials here have revised several personnel policies. These policies
Dec. 4, 2009 New physical fitness standards effective July 1, biannual testing begins Jan. 1 Maintaining peak combat readiness begins and ends with healthy, motivated and well-trained Airmen.On Nov. 19, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel announced the new Air Force fitness standards will officially begin July 1, 2010.Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III said the