Medical readiness takes the lead

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Kimberly Tyree Jones of Tiffin (right), Ohio, administers a vaccine at the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Center at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Jones serves with Company C, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division-Baghdad.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.19.2008

Courtesy Story

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By 2nd Lt. Michelle Lawrence
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – If the mass of Soldiers gathered around the entrance to the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic doesn't give it away, then maybe it's the Soldiers rubbing their upper arms amidst a few mildly anxious faces that did. The immunizations clinic at the TMC is in full swing, ensuring the medical readiness of Soldiers and Department of Defense civilians alike.

Don't let the sheer amount of patients flowing through the immunizations clinic fool you. This is a two person operation and has been since the Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers of Company C, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), took over the TMC in November 2007.

Lt. Col. Jennifer Hines, a native of Greensboro, N.C., and Sgt. Kimberly Tyree Jones, a native of Tiffin, Ohio, have both spent long hours building a successful area support immunizations program.

The immunizations clinic provides support to twenty-three battalions, including all Soldiers and DOD civilians on Camp Liberty and Soldiers at nearby forward operation bases, combat outposts, and joint security stations. This is a tall order for such a small clinic, especially considering the clinic's ability to administer fifteen different vaccines.

The most popular, or least depending upon which end of the needle you are, is the anthrax vaccine, which the clinic has administered more than 10,000 vaccines alone.

Collectively, the two-person staff administers approximately 1,600 immunizations per month, but the patient flow is never consistent and the daily count can vary from zero to 300.

"The hardest part is not having the staff at your disposal. I don't mind working, but it would be nice to have one more person," said Hines during a short, but well deserved break between patients.

The small staff may be strapped with their patient load, but they both take the extra time to examine each individual's medical record to determine if any additional vaccines are necessary to keep medical readiness of the Soldiers at the highest possible level.

"A Soldier may be sent in for anthrax, but when they walk through the door, they get a thorough screening. They will receive whatever they need, whether they like it or not," said Jones. She went on to add that there is no excuse for a Soldier who has been on Camp Liberty to return home in need of immunizations.

One of the best parts about working in the clinic, according to Jones, is the command support. Commands have actively been taking responsibility for their Soldiers' medical readiness.

Jones said immunizations and medical readiness has taken a huge step into the spotlight when compared to her last deployment.

"Last deployment mass immunizations were unheard of. This deployment it is commonplace to have large groups of Soldiers come in for immunizations," Jones said.

Whether you look at the sheer numbers of immunizations given at this one clinic or at the trends across the whole U.S. Army, it is difficult to deny the current emphasis on medical readiness of the military as a whole. "It says a lot about how far we have come with our mission in Iraq when we can put so much focus on medical readiness," said Jones.

• Date Taken: 08.19.2008
• Date Posted: 08.19.2008 02:36
• Story ID: 22649
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ