Army reports shortage of training, personnel, and equipment in combat medical units

[babylonsister]

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=37058&dcn=e_gvet

Army report backs upgrades in combat medical units
By Bob Brewin [e-mail] May 31, 2007

Army combat medical units operating in Iraq do not have the proper emergency transport equipment, are lacking in training and have a shortage of critical personnel, including lab technicians who must send medical tests to Germany, according to internal Army briefings obtained by Government Executive.

A shortage of lab and pharmacy technicians makes it difficult to conduct tests near the battlefields, according to briefing slides prepared by the Army Medical Department. When the Army can hire lab personnel, they frequently need additional training, according to the briefings. To complete lab tests, the Army must send patients' samples to the Landstuhl Regional Army Medical Center in Germany, a process that can take two to three weeks to return results to medical facilities in Iraq.

Even when lab work can be done in Iraq, it is often conducted on an ad hoc basis. "Blood collection and apheresis are 'Hey you' tasks," according to the briefings, which were conducted in February during a mid-year review for Maj. Gen. Ronald Silverman, commander of the Iraq-based Task Force Three Medical Command. The Army Medical Department Center and School conducted the review, which included representatives from major Army commands, divisions and brigade combat team surgeons.

The findings point out deficiencies in what is otherwise a vast improvement in battlefield medicine in the past 15 years. The advances, together with a system of medevac helicopters that can transport a wounded soldier from the battlefield to a field hospital in an hour or less, have boosted the survival rate of Iraq casualties to nearly 95 percent.

Still, the briefings portray a combat medicine operation struggling under inadequate and poor training. For example, the briefings describe combat medics who are poorly trained to perform emergency surgical airways when working in the field. Performing airway procedures is a key component of emergency medicine, which includes insuring that a patient can breathe and stopping a patient's bleeding.

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[AnneD]

1. I smell ....

a skills draft in the wind.

[whistle]

2. So, the Pentagon now says "Sorry America, $550 billion JUST HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH!"

....they want MORE MONEY, billion and billions more!

Does the term RAT HOLE mean anything here? :wft:

[Captain Hilts]

3. The military medical corps has been stretched to the limit for some time now.

If you got money for a cup of coffee from the govt. while in medical school you can plan on getting that letter inviting you for coffee, doughnuts, and a chat...

[Grandrose]

4. K&R

I am sure we will hear about this from the MSM...after the report on that TB guy :eyes: :kick:

[L. Coyote]

5. K&R Will it float, will it float

[L. Coyote]

6. Kick