Medical center keeps troops in action

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  "Being here really makes you appreciate the sacrifices these wounded warriors have made and when you put them on a plane after they recovered from their injuries you know they're going back out there to put their lives on the line all over again," says a nurse as she wipes away a tear from her eye. "I get choked up just thinking about it."

The men and women working in the Wounded Warrior Center of Excellence, members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group at an air base in Southwest Asia, provide health care and comfort to ambulatory patients with injuries sustained in a combat zone. Their goal: nursing them back to fighting form.

"Our mission is to provide adequate care for the patients to get them back to an optimum level of health and back into the fight within 30 days," said Capt. Deidra Haralson, a 379th EMDG nurse. "We have been very successful in getting our patients back to their units."

Since the beginning of their rotation, the medical staff has helped 150 servicemembers successfully reintegrate back to their deployed units. Currently, the staff members of the center are caring for 27 servicemembers.

"We are one of the premier military treatment facilities located in the area of responsibility which accepts troops for surgical intervention or recovery and recuperation," said Maj. Debbie Davis, another 379th EMDG nurse. "We are close to the fight.  We can take care of them and we can get them back to duty in a timely manner."

The Wounded Warrior Center of Excellence can house up to as many as 50 injured servicemembers at a time.

"We can always get extra billeting if we need to," said Major Davis. "If we had more wounded warriors we could definitely make room for them. We'll never turn anyone away. We'll always find a way to take care of them."

Over the course of the servicemembers' recovery, which usually takes 10 to 14 days, medical personnel closely watch their development to gauge whether or not they'll be fit to reenter a combat zone.

"Before we can send them back to their unit we have to know whether or not they can handle the rigors of deployment mentally and physically," said Captain Haralson. "The doctors will base their decision from watching (a patient's) progress throughout the rehabilitation process."

Through routine checkups and appointments, the medical staff uses all of their assets to ensure optimum levels of health for mind, body and even soul.

"Our medical team consists of a general surgeon and orthopedic surgeon, primary care providers, physical therapy, mental health, nurses, medical technicians, laboratory, radiology, dental, immunization, optometry, pharmacy and many other disciplines," said Captain Haralson. "We provide care for the total well being of the wounded warrior. 

"Our main concern is their mental health," she said. "They're always saying, 'I want to get back to my guys.' We just try to keep them occupied with various activities as much as they can tolerate during their recovery."

They just want to get back to their brothers in arms because they know how important each individual is, Captain Haralson said.

"The unit is my family and when I am gone it's a huge impact on the Soldiers having to fill in for me," said Army Sergeant Broadus Eddings, a driver for a brigade commander at Camp Liberty, Iraq.

Offering a solution close to the problem pays huge dividends in the war on terrorism.

"We help maintain a high level of operational forces and the best part about it is that we handle it within the AOR," Captain Haralson said.

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