Photo By Tech. Sgt. Melissa Chatham | First Lt. Brock Nicholson, 110 Medical Group and 2nd Lt. Orlando Bromell, 192 Medical...... read more read more
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KAUAI, Hawaii – Six Air National Guard units teamed up with Air Force, Navy and Army medical, ophthalmology and dental professionals to provide much needed services to residents as part of the innovative readiness training mission Tropic Care here, Feb. 26 to March 10.
Three field-operated medical facilities were set up in two towns, Kapa’a and Hanapepe, on the picturesque Hawaiian island to provide value-added services to the community and give service members deployment and readiness training.
Optometry was in high demand at the medically underserved Hanapepe IRT facility. Optometrists were able to assist more patients due to the availability of optometry deployment kits.
“I had no idea of how much demand there was in Hawaii for ophthalmology,” said Lt. Col. Vince Simoncini, an ophthalmologist with the D.C. Air Guard’s 113th Medical Group. “We could be here for a month and I don’t think we would ever meet the demand.”
Optometrists saw more than 300 patients each day, providing free eye exams and eye glasses.
“We are offering eye exams with a free pair of eye glasses that are available for pickup the next day,” said Air Force Col. Jerry Arends, the IRT commander for Tropic Care.
The resources and training allowed the service members to gain valuable real-world experience. They also saw daily improvement in service.
“Working efficiently and adjusting our process to accommodate the patients without cutting corners; that has been valuable training for us,” Simoncini said. “The technicians have also been able to do things [hands-on training] that they can’t back at home.”
The ANG ophthalmologist found the opportunity to help a community in need an eye opening experience.
“The people couldn’t be more gracious and kind,” Simoncini insisted. “These are the warmest people I’ve ever met. Training is ultimately why we are here, but we can’t overlook the humanitarian aspect of it… that’s the real joy in this mission!”
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2012 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 85447 |
| Location: | AL, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Air National Guard participates in IRT; free services provided to hundreds, by TSgt Melissa Chatham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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