Teamwork brings New Weapon into Warzone

Photo By Sgt. H. Marcus McGill | Capt. Bruce C. Menely, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy, Commander, Task Force Medical South listens as Col. David R. West, U.S. Army Task Force Medical-Afghanistan addresses the crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the MRI machine at the NATO Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield recently. “The goal is to preserve combat power by providing the best and most advanced care as far forward as possible,” said West.  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

10.29.2011

Story by Spc. H. Marcus McGill 

319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Service members from multiple branches and nations gathered at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield recently to unveil a new tool in fighting the war on terror. This tool is not as much about taking the fight to the enemy as it is about keeping NATO troops in that fight.

“The new MRI service strengthens our diagnostic capabilities for the wounded warrior,” said United States Navy Capt. Bruce C. Menely, Medical Corps, commander, Task Force Medical South. “It complements our Diagnostic Imaging Services; providing more comprehensive evaluation with convenience and exceptional technology.”

The Role 3 MRI machine is located in a state-of-the-art mobile housing unit just outside the doors of the hospital. According to a hospital press release, it is designed to provide high performance imaging and faster exam times in an open, patient-friendly scanning environment.

Prior to the arrival of two MRI machines in Afghanistan, the closest place our service members could go for an MRI was 3,000 miles away. The KAF Role 3 machine was one of two that was brought to the country. The other was sent to the Camp Bastian Role 3 hospital in Helmand province.

“The goal is to preserve combat power by providing the best and most advanced care as far forward as possible,” said Col. David R. West United States Army Task Force Medical-Afghanistan.

If there was one theme of the day, it seemed as though no one could say enough about teamwork.

“This was a very big challenge with numerous organizations and agencies involved. People from the States, Europe, and here; civilians and Service Members from multiple branches all worked together,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jesus Tulud, senior medical officer for Medical Maintenance Afghanistan.

“This is the first MRI machine ever brought into theatre,” he said.

Tulud said there were numerous challenges in getting this machine on the ground and ready to be used.

“These are usually used in fixed facilities. Just to run it requires backup generators, and we had to use one of the largest planes ever just to get it here,” said Tulud.

Tulud went on to describe one of the most important reasons for bringing in the machine.

“We can provide information and images to anywhere in the country that can give us more information to better provide for that patient,” he said.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christopher Heath Way, Diagnostic Radiologist and Radiology Department Head at Role 3, suggested that the increased ability to collect imaging won’t just be useful while we are at war, but could also provide meaningful data to be used on the civilian side.

“This is an evaluation for the presence of brain injury and the more mechanisms we can put with what we already know then the better we will get at evaluating and treating brain injuries in the long term,” said Way.

Due to the use of roadside bombs, TBI is now known to some as the signature injury of recent warfare.

“The arrival of the MRI in theater is a true testament that we will not spare any cost in providing the best care for the wounded, ill, or injured,” said West.

• Date Taken: 10.29.2011
• Date Posted: 11.15.2011 13:19
• Story ID: 80068
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF