Navy Medical Focuses on Readiness

Photo By Cpl. Gabrielle Quire | Capt. John A. McGurty Jr., Marine Forces Reserve force surgeon, addresses Navy personnel during the annual Marine Forces Reserve Surgeon’s Conference at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Feb. 6, 2015. Navy medical personnel gather at this conference once a year to year to collaborate on how to improve medical readiness by discussing the best business practices and sharing ideas.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

02.06.2015

Story by Cpl. Gabrielle Quire 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

NEW ORLEANS - Navy personnel from across the United States attended the annual Marine Forces Reserve Surgeon’s Conference at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Feb. 6-8, 2015.

The conference allowed senior medical leadership to collaborate on issues which directly affect medical readiness and the provision of healthcare to Marines.

Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, welcomed everyone to the conference and thanked them for their outstanding support to the Marine Corps. Mills focused on how naval readiness is pertinent to Marine Corps Reserve readiness, relevance and responsiveness.

According to Commander Michael J. Thornton, Marine Air Ground Task Force surgeon with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, there is a need for Sailors and Marines to remain medically ready and relevant, especially with recent issues like traumatic brain injuries becoming more recognized within the services.

“TBI is like a silent scar. It’s there, we see it as we work with Marines and Sailors, but they deny it because they think they’re okay,” said Thornton. “That silent scar builds over time and it ends up having serious consequences in their professional and personal life.”

Thornton said TBIs occur when a sudden trauma or head injury disrupts the function of the brain. Common causes include explosive devices, falls, and concussions. TBIs can be more effectively treated by spreading awareness and taking a more personal approach to patients by their medical providers.

Rear Admiral Brian S. Pecha, the medical officer of the Marine Corps, led a discussion on how to target and spread awareness to today’s military patients and their families on the importance of their healthcare.

This conference is extremely important, said Capt. John A. McGurty Jr., Marine Forces Reserve force surgeon. It gives senior medical leadership tools and directives to share with their junior medical officers and surgeons. The conference also provides training in health readiness and providing medical support to major exercises.
Each day, subject matter experts led group discussions on various topics such as funding, reporting data properly and getting the necessary billets filled. There were opportunities to ask questions, raise concerns and share information on the best ideas and business practices.

“This conference is important because predominantly it allows the different major subordinate commands to collaborate, coordinate and synchronize our efforts to work through issues and problems in a concerted effort,” said Thornton. Most of us have similar issues, so this conference allows us to find solutions between the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve, he said.

The MARFORRES Surgeon’s Conference enabled the wide range of medical fields to coordinate their work and more effectively share information. This in turn keeps Marines safer and better prepared for challenges which lay ahead.

• Date Taken: 02.06.2015
• Date Posted: 02.11.2015 11:31
• Story ID: 154195
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US