Feb. 27, 2008 AF/SG lauds extraordinary Joint lifesaving effort during MHS conference During the recent Military Health System conference in Washington, Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush devoted roughly half of his 25-minute plenary session briefing to the extraordinary Joint effort that went into saving the life of Army Sgt. Dan Powers. Powers, a squad
Feb. 27, 2008 Outreach tour educates nation's top medical civic leaders Some of the nation's leading health care professionals recently got a close look at one of the most vital missions in the Air Force -- health care for the wounded. The tour, sponsored by the Secretary of the Air Force's National Civic Outreach office, brought representatives from national medical
Feb. 27, 2008 Airmen treat Iraqi children injured in mortar attack Air Force Theater Hospital Airmen here helped save the lives of seven Iraqi children who were playing soccer when they were wounded in an attack by insurgents Feb. 19 in Al Jumia, Iraq. The seven wounded children were transported to the base and were treated for various injuries. Two were treated
Feb. 27, 2008 SECAF thanks Airmen for their service, dedication Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne stopped to talk with deployed Airmen during a luncheon and Airmen's call held at Balad Air Base Feb. 2. During his visit, Secretary Wynne discussed topics including in-lieu-of taskings, the medical miracles of Iraq and current and future changes on the
Feb. 27, 2008 $92 million facility slated for trauma research The groundbreaking of a $92 million research center Jan. 11 marked the first Base Realignment and Closure construction project at Fort Sam Houston directed by the 2005 BRAC legislation. Once completed, the 150,000-square-foot Joint Center of Excellence for Battlefield Health and Trauma Research will
Feb. 27, 2008 CENTAF commander applauds theater hospital Airmen The U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander and command chief had high praises for the Airmen manning the Air Force Theater Hospital during their tour here Jan. 26. Lt. Gen. Gary North and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Small recognized several of the hospital's top performers and showed their
Feb. 27, 2008 Bacteria research could protect Airmen from radiation An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded scientist has identified manganese complexes in the bacterium Deinococcus radioduran that resists the damaging effects of radiation. The goal of the research is to investigate biomaterials that offer protection to Airmen from various environmental
Feb. 27, 2008 Service still seeking special compensation claimants The approval rate of claims for Combat-Related Special Compensation is currently running 66 percent, but one-third of the eligible retirees still have not applied for the program. Air Force Personnel Center officials expected an increase in claims when the benefit was expanded to include all combat
Feb. 27, 2008 Military health care rivals private industry, Pentagon official says Providing troops quality health care through a military system that rivals and even outperforms the private sector is a top Defense Department priotity, a senior Pentagon official said today. In opening remarks to a packed auditorium at the Military Health System conference here today, Dr. S. Ward
Feb. 27, 2008 Cooperation, attentiveness keys to military health success Increasing cooperation across the military health community and responding to health care feedback should guide health professionals serving U.S. troops, a top Pentagon official said. During the annual Military Health System conference that kicked off here today, David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of
Feb. 27, 2008 Center gears up for mental health, traumatic brain injuries Army Col. (Dr.) Loree Sutton is a woman on a mission. The military psychiatrist has, for the last month, ricocheted across the Capital Beltway landscape and beyond, setting up a Defense Department office that will, for the first time, bring together the best of the best relating to psychological
Feb. 27, 2008 MHS Award Winners The Military Health System recognized individuals and medical facilities for various achievements during the 2008 Military Health System (MHS) conference held January 28 - 31, 2008. The following is a listing of award recipients: Excellence in Customer Satisfaction (CONUS) Small Medical Facility -
Feb. 27, 2008 AF-specific awards at MHS conference The Air Force-specific awards were presented by Air Force Deputy Surgeon General Maj. Gen. (Dr.) C. Bruce Green during the Military Health System conference's Air Force Breakout Session.2007 Air Force Awards - Presented at MHS Conference/AF Breakout CATEGORY MTF MAJCOM Best Hospital Elmendorf PACAF
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat Nurses: Intermediate Care Ward Few patients stay at the Air Force Theater Hospital for more than a few days. But injured Iraqis and non-critical coalition forces members may remain for longer periods in the Intermediate Care Ward. Many are Americans with wounds or illnesses that won't keep them out of action for too long. Most,
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat Nurses: The ICU The underlying goal for the Air Force Theater Hospital is to save lives and get patients safely out of the combat zone alive. Between trips to the Operating Room and the next phase of treatment, patients rely on intensive care unit nurses. 1st Lt. Johana Sierra-Nunez dedicates her life to keeping
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat Nurses: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists The human body alone isn't equipped to deal with the wounds of war. Trauma caused by an improvised explosive device, for instance, is literally and figuratively a jolt to the entire system. Blood changes and loss, temperature decreases, oxygen deprivation and shifts to the pH balance of bodily
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat Nurses: The OR Statistically, the Air Force Theater Hospital performs more life-saving trauma procedures in four months than most major metropolitan trauma hospitals handle in a year. Behind every procedure is an operating room nurse. Capt. George Moctezuma, OR nurse, wears a black tunic that is punctuated with
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat nurses: The ER The Air Force Theater Hospital is one of the busiest trauma hospitals in the world. Every trauma code that comes into the hospital starts in the emergency room, where Air Force nurses work to save wounded Soldiers' lives and -- along the way -- provide some comfort. Captain Shelly Garceau, a night
Jan. 30, 2008 Combat Nurses: a special 5-part feature from Balad It's 4 a.m. at one of the busiest trauma centers in the world and Capt. Shelly Garceau, an emergency room nurse, is finally taking a breather. Moments earlier, she'd dropped two Marines off in the Intensive Care Unit of the Air Force theater hospital here. They'd suffered partial thickness burns
Jan. 30, 2008 Reintegration begins now for Airmen returning home Long before bags are packed, replacements are in place and final out-processing is complete, redeployment preparations begin for Airmen. Redeployment preparations here help with reintegration at home station, said Chaplain (Capt.) Cliff Jones. "Our focus is continuity of care," he said. "We want to