March 31, 2008 Lightweight litter system initiative yields promising results As initiatives go, this one for the Air Force Expeditionary Center's Air Mobility Battlelab may "litter"-ally save lives. AMB set out to prove the feasibility of using a lightweight, man-portable litter system that can be hand-carried by aeromedical evacuation, or AE, teams and used on Air Mobility
March 31, 2008 Woman medic receives Silver Star Heroes are made, not born. And a hero like Army Spc. Monica Brown, 19, is no different. Brown, recognized for her gallant actions during combat in Afghanistan in 2007, is the second woman soldier since World War II to receive a Silver Star, the third highest award given for valor in enemy action.
March 31, 2008 Assistant surgeon general visits Balad hospital The assistant Air Force surgeon general for nursing services and medical force development met with deployed medics here March 3 and 4.While touring the Air Force Theater Hospital, Maj. Gen. Melissa A. Rank visited with Airmen assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Medical Group and listened as
March 31, 2008 New Procedure introduced in Air Force podiatric surgery Medical specialists in the 59th Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center here are introducing a new procedure in the podiatric surgery department. The procedure, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a form of treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis. Chronic
March 31, 2008 Wilford Hall opens new Air Force hyperbaric therapy facility The primary hyperbaric capability in the Air Force was relocated March 21 from Brooks City-Base, Texas, to the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Hyperbaric chambers are used to perform hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which supplies a surplus of oxygen to the tissues to help
March 31, 2008 Kelley appointed assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Joseph E. Kelley joined the Military Health System (MHS) in February 2008 as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Clinical and Program Policy. In this position, Kelley will be responsible for providing medical information, policy formulation, clinical
March 31, 2008 Officials activate 711th Human Performance Wing Officials at the Air Force Research Laboratory officially activated the 711th Human Performance Wing during a ceremony at the Air Force Institute of Technology's Kenney Hall here March 25. The new wing combines AFRL's Human Effectiveness Directorate with elements transitioning to Wright-Patterson
March 31, 2008 SARC helps deployed servicemembers respond to crisis Air Force Sexual Assault Response Coordinators will be stressing education and awareness about sexual assault throughout the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Those deployed, with a three-drink-a-night limit on alcohol and General Order 1 applying to their interactions with
March 31, 2008 DOD anti-tobacco campaign invades military markets The Department of Defense isn't just blowing smoke about its tobacco cessation campaign. "Quit Tobacco. Make Everyone Proud" is making its presence felt with enthusiastic marketing initiatives in 13 U.S. metropolitan markets containing 28 major military installations. The campaign positions military
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