Partnering for improved medical care

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  The patient for the day came through the door in a large black bag, and medics quickly dragged him onto the table. Then the patient's head popped off and a foot fell to the floor, but that was OK for the medics -- it was just a medical manikin.

But when all the parts were in line and the day's training began, that manikin became a living, breathing patient who needed care. This scenario was common for the students during the In-Country Clinical Observership training program, which ended Oct. 29 here.

Training on new ideas or procedures can be challenging, especially in the field of medicine, one trainer said.

"But thanks to the assistance from the Air Force Theater Hospital and the people here, we will be able to better train future Iraqi medical technicians," the trainer said.

ICCO's primary function is to optimize Iraq's Ministry of Defense clinical instructors through "train the trainer," where each trainee group receives instruction, makes improvements to the curriculum and then participates in teaching the next group, said Col. Lois MacDonald, the Air Force Theater Hospital chief nurse.

ICCO provides Iraqi nurses both observation and hands-on training experiences of clinic and hospital practices at a U.S. military treatment facility, thereby contributing to continuing success.

"After becoming instructors, these trainees will take what we have taught them and tailor it to fit the trainees they will have in the future," Colonel MacDonald said. "In the last few weeks, these trainees have really blossomed, especially because they are very passionate about being able to care for themselves and their country. They are always asking questions, wanting to know 'why' and 'how' for everything we teach them."

And the trainees have vowed that the training they receive will never go to waste.

"We promise that we will transfer this medical mission to the Iraqi medical personnel, and teach them as well as you have taught us," said an Iraqi graduate.