Nov. 2, 2009 Kandahar Airmen fly missions of mercy They are the "Angels of the Battlefield," medics dedicated to transporting wounded U.S. and coalition servicemembers, as well as locals to the medical care they need. "It's our job to take care of these wounded warriors," said Maj. Dawn Rice, a flight nurse and medical director assigned to the 451st
Nov. 2, 2009 Wilford Hall patient receives first cord blood transplant in DoD A patient at Wilford Hall Medical Center received the first unrelated cord blood transplant in a Department of Defense hospital Oct. 16. Cord blood comes from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby after delivery. This blood is rich in blood stem cells which are very flexible and can grow into any
Nov. 2, 2009 59th Medical Wing historian makes history The 59th Medical Wing historian, Mrs. Judith Taylor, recently returned from a four-month deployment as wing historian for the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Although deployments to war zones are often routine for military members, they are not as common for Department of
Nov. 2, 2009 Shinseki cites collaboration in mental health care Psychological war wounds are nothing new to servicemembers, but the support of the nation to care for their injuries, until recent years, was somewhat uncharted territory. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are committed to advancing that care because it's the right thing to do as a
Nov. 2, 2009 Ophthalmology academy honors military doctors Representatives of the American Academy of Ophthalmology presented military ophthalmologists with a Distinguished Service Award in San Francisco Oct. 25 for their ongoing service and contributions to vision care. "It is my distinct honor to accept this award on behalf of all ophthalmologists who
Nov. 2, 2009 Obama signs veterans health care legislation President Barack Obama signed new legislation Oct. 22 that creates predictable funding for veterans' health care. The Veterans Healthcare Reform and Transparency Act fundamentally changes how Department of Veterans Affairs receives health care funding. The reform calls for appropriations a year in
Nov. 2, 2009 Defense Department officials take aim at drug abuse "Drug Free is the Key" for the Defense Department's Red Ribbon Week this year as it works to raise public awareness and mobilize communities to combat tobacco, alcohol and drug use among military personnel, civilians and families. The observation of Red Ribbon Week began Oct. 23 and ended Oct. 31.
Nov. 2, 2009 Aeromedical staging facility staff to reach major milestone in warrior care Members of the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago. members provide critical care to wounded warriors, and were scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime in
Nov. 2, 2009 New PT rules will not take away from unit fitness Everyone in the Air Force is required to maintain fitness. In fact, in January 2010 the new physical fitness testing criteria will take effect, requiring Airmen to meet minimum requirements in each category or fail the test. Now, Air Force officials are restructuring the requirement for commanders
Nov. 2, 2009 Airmen wrap up relief efforts in Pacific Airmen providing humanitarian assistance following the recent natural disasters in the Pacific have wrapped up their efforts and are returning home, Pacific Air Forces officials here said Oct. 19. The missions began Sept. 30 when Hawaii Air National Guard crews flew two C-17 Globemaster IIIs loaded
Nov. 2, 2009 Airman renders combat first aid to Soldiers An Air Force medic applied combat first aid to Soldiers when their vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device in Kapisa Province, recently. Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a medic deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, with Kapisa Provincial Reconstruction Team was riding in a
Oct. 13, 2009 Airmen deploy to Indonesia to help quake victims Airmen assigned to Pacific Air Forces left here and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 5 on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs for Padang, Indonesia, to provide medical care to those affected by the recent 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The humanitarian assistance rapid response team (HARRT) combines medical and
Oct. 13, 2009 'Amazing': After weeks of treatment, AFTH releases 14-year-old mortar attack survivor The all-call came over the Air Force Theater Hospital loudspeakers at 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2009. It wasn't an emergency, but it prompted dozens of staff members to stop what they were doing and make their way to the long exit hallway. Smiling and chatting, they began lining up on the walls. Over
Oct. 13, 2009 Wilford Hall opens new PTSD Clinic Wilford Hall Medical Center has a new clinic to treat patients who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The PTSD Clinic will offer evidence- based treatments and a virtual reality program to help Airmen returning from combat operations. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a
Oct. 13, 2009 Wounded warriors get heroes' welcome at Andrews Minutes after the hulking C-17 Globemaster III rolled to a stop on the tarmac here Sept. 28, two oversized ambulances backed up to its rear loading ramp to receive its precious cargo: 23 wounded warriors and sick or injured servicemembers in need of advanced medical care. Most of the patients
Oct. 13, 2009 Mildenhall sergeant saved by peers after heart attack at gym When firefighters here responded to a call at the Hardstand Fitness Center Aug. 26, they expected to find a conscious individual by a treadmill. What they found was the chance to save a life. Staff Sgt. Jacob Silvia, one of the firefighters, recalls walking up to the gym anticipating giving oxygen
Oct. 13, 2009 Tricare inpatient costs increase for fiscal 2010 Every year the costs for Tricare-covered inpatient services are reviewed and are subject to change. For the coming fiscal 2010, which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2010, there is an increase for some out-of-pocket costs paid by Tricare Standard beneficiaries at civilian hospitals for inpatient care and
Oct. 13, 2009 Family uses technology to cope with deployment separation Talking every day with the man she married is sometimes a challenge for Amanda Gutierrez, but even though he is deployed they can still discuss family issues face to face. Technology like email, web cams and texting helps bridge the gap between Texas and Afghanistan - nearly 8,000 miles as a crow
Oct. 13, 2009 Air Force study uses virtual reality for PTSD A new virtual reality program to treat combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and experiencing post traumatic stress disorder is a first at Wilford Hall Medical Center. PTSD has long been associated with war veterans. It was called "Shell Shock" in World War I, "Combat Neurosis" during
Oct. 13, 2009 Wilford Hall doctor wins General Paul W. Myers Award Lt. Col. (Dr.) William "Bo" Hannah, Internal Medicine Program director at Wilford Hall Medical Center, has won the 2009 Paul W. Meyers Award for his extraordinary work at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina and in the 59th Medical Operations Squadron here. The Paul W. Myers