Air Force Medics Deliver Diverse Deployed Care
by Shireen Bedi, U.S. Air Force Medical
Service February 18,
2021
Deployed medicine is often understood in the context of severe
injuries on the battlefield, however trauma care is only one aspect
of the Air Force’s deployed requirement and capability.
Deployed medicine consists of both trauma and primary care. Trauma
makes up approximately 30% of the care delivered in deployed
environments, meaning the other 70% of deployed medicine is primary
care offered at military treatment facilities outside the combat
zone.
Every deployed medic is equally important to readiness
and combatant commanders’ mission success.
Trauma care makes up approximately 30% of deployed medical care. Air Force medics must be ready to deliver a broad range of medical care, including things they often see at their military treatment facility. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
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“We sustain the
warfighter through public health, primary care, and services like
pharmacy, mental health, dental, physical and occupational health
therapies,” said Col. Matthew Hendell, Commander, 934th Aeromedical
Evacuation Squadron, Minneapolis - St. Paul Air Reserve Station.
“These critical assets ensure deployed personnel remain healthy and
mission capable.”
This was true for Lt. Col. Julia Bradley,
71st Medical Group chief nurse, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, who
was recently deployed as the infectious disease team lead for Force
Protection Package 4, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Her other
deployments include humanitarian missions in Cyprus and Haiti.
“When I deployed, I treated a broad range of non-combat related
concerns, from nausea to bone fractures,” said Bradley. “For
example, I often saw medical issues related to dehydration. Many
service members would exercise but not drink enough water, and
dehydration would affect their kidneys. Medical teams have to remain
ready and be able to treat a variety of health concerns.”
The
goal is to keep service members healthy and in the fight throughout
the length of their deployments.
Dentists and dental
technicians, for example, are equipped to provide the same
high-quality care service members receive at home station. According
to Col. Robin E. Fontenot, expeditionary dentistry consultant to the
Air Force Surgeon General, by having this capability available,
there is a decreased chance dental health will be a reason why
someone needs to redeploy for care.
“We offer cleaning and
exams, especially for those service members who have been deployed
for a longer time,” said Fontenot. “We also do extractions and
restorations when needed. Our dentists and dental technicians have
seen service members come in with an infection around a wisdom
tooth. Wisdom tooth extractions are easy, so that member may be sore
for a few days but is right back in the fight without needing
aeromedical evacuation.”
Deployments are a significant event
for some Airmen, which is why mental health care is a crucial
capability. Deployed mental health care providers help Airmen
through difficult stressors.
December 18, 2019 - U.S. Air Force Capt. Amy Badillo, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Detachment 1 flight nurse, monitors vitals on a simulated patient on a C-17 Globemaster III from Travis Air Force Base, California. The 43rd AES and the 60th Medical Group Critical Care Air Transport Team practiced their AE capabilities during their first integrated mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Carnell)
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“Airmen can face significant
challenges being half a world away from loved ones, and some Airmen
need support navigating deployments,” said Col. Scott Sonnek,
Director of Psychological Health, Air Force Medical Readiness
Agency. “Our deployed mental health professionals keep these Airmen
engaged in the mission, and can make the difference between an
Airmen being able to complete their deployment or having to go home
prematurely.”
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has widened the
aperture of deployed medical care. Safely flying infected patients
requires a wider range of medical specialties usually only seen in a
clinic.
“During aeromedical evacuations, I worked with
specialties that don’t normally fly so we could meet the same
standards we have in a treatment facility,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin
Stermole, Infectious Disease Chief, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida,
and Infectious Disease Team Lead for Force Package 2, Ramstein Air
Base, Germany. “Using personnel like bioenvironmental engineers in a
new environment improves our health care capabilities and allows the
mission to continue during the pandemic.”
Having a wide range
of medical specialties not just in the air, but also deployed on the
ground, ensures warfighters can remain in theater and get the
mission done.
“The Air Force Medical Service is highly
flexible,” said Col. Colin Smyth, Director, Expeditionary Medical
Policy and Operations. “We were able to rapidly develop a COVID
Theater Hospital force package with associated personnel and
equipment to meet specific needs.
“Our medics support
combatant commanders by maintaining the medical readiness of every
deployed member, and the readiness of the medical force. Air Force
medics have validated this capability, as seen by our ability to
quickly respond to new requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic and
keep the downrange mission going.”
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