Medical-grade oxygen available at Ganci Published Sept. 2, 2003 By Tech. Sgt. James A. Rush 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs GANCI AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- “E-DOCS” is now up and running here but it is not a Web-based replacement for the medical staff.The Expeditionary Deployable Oxygen Concentration System is a big step forward for medical care at this forward base, said Maj. Cheryl Bott, chief of aerospace medicine for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group.“The availability of medical oxygen in a wartime environment is a prime factor in saving the lives of wounded personnel,” she said. “Expeditionary medical units require an oxygen supply that can be stored and stockpiled, ready for immediate use, transported with the unit and (is) indefinitely self-sufficient.”Many facets of medical care, including emergency resuscitation, surgery and treatment of routine illnesses, require oxygen. The system filters and concentrates the gas from the surrounding air, producing medical-grade oxygen for use in patient care. It can be delivered directly from the concentrator to the hospital distribution system or compressed in cylinders for storage.“Having the ability to compress our own oxygen reduces the medical group's reliance on civilian suppliers, eliminates a lengthy supply chain and provides a constant supply of this essential item,” Bott said. “This is especially important when operational bases are locked down, and the normal supply system is disrupted.”