US, Thai service members join for medical care

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher M. Andrews, lead medical surgeon for Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 met with Royal Thai Army Capt. Jakkrapong Khruacharoem, an emergency surgeon at Fort Suranaree Hospital, Feb. 2 and discussed, through an interpreter, where U.S. troops stationed at Camp Suranaree could be taken in case of a medical emergency. Andrews determined that Fort Suranaree Hospital is capable of housing U.S. troops and has fully functional emergency services at all hours, approximately 60 physicians, 150 nurses, full MRI capabilities and many operational medical services including a lab, blood bank, dental room, outpatient clinic and pharmacy. Cobra Gold is an annual Thai and U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise that includes forces from Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and Malaysia.  

KORAT, THAILAND

02.02.2012

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

KORAT, Thailand - Royal Thai and U.S. service members met at two Thai hospitals Feb. 2 to discuss where U.S. troops stationed at Camp Suranaree could be taken in case of a potential medical emergency during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012.

Prior to any exercise involving U.S. service members in foreign countries, local hospitals are contacted by U.S. medical planner to coordinate possible medical requirements. After arriving in the area, U.S. Navy medical personnel toured local hospitals to ensure they met medical standards and have agreed to accept the military’s TRICARE insurance program.

“You don’t want patient care to be affected by an inability to communicate,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher M. Andrews, lead medical support surgeon for personnel on Camp Suranaree for CG 12. “If we already have a communication lane set up with our Thai counterparts, then all we need to do is trigger that when an emergency presents itself.”

According to Andrews, Bangkok Ratchasima Hospital and Fort Suranaree Hospital were the two hospitals toured by Andrews and were found to be fully capable and up to standards, said Andrews.

Royal Thai Army Captain Jakkrapong Khruacharoem, an emergency surgeon at Fort Suranaree Hospital, gave U.S. service members a tour of the hospital.

“The U.S. has helped provide us with a lot of the medical equipment we use in our hospital,” said Khruacharoem. “The medical care we provide to patients is unbiased. We treat all of our patients equally.”

Andrews determined that Fort Suranaree Hospital, the closer of the two hospitals to Camp Suranaree, has fully functional emergency services at all hours. Within the hospital, approximately 60 physicians, 150 nurses, full MRI capabilities and many operational medical services including a lab, blood bank, dental room, outpatient clinic and a pharmacy are available and can be utilized if needed.

Fort Suranaree Hospital compares to the average hospital you would see in the U.S., said Andrews.

Local medical concerns are food borne illnesses and mosquitoes. The virus dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, is of the most concern to U.S. service members, said Andrews.

“The recent flooding in Thailand has brought upon more mosquitoes,” said Andrews. “If someone is infected with a virus or illness, the Thai medical facilities are more than capable of tending to our service members’ needs.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Elston C. Stewart, a preventive medicine technician with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, also accompanied the tour to help inspect the hospitals’ conditions.

“I appreciated the Thai’s willingness to show their capabilities,” said Stewart. “It is good to feel safe in a host nation.”

• Date Taken: 02.02.2012
• Date Posted: 02.06.2012 01:30
• Story ID: 83368
• Location: KORAT, TH