Photo By Capt. Robert Gallimore | Pfc. Magnus Yancy, a 212th CSH lab tech, draws blood from Chief Warrant Officer 2...... read more read more
By Capt. Mary Andrea Ugaddan
212th CSH Public Affairs Officer
MIESAU, Germany – The 212th Combat Support Hospital validated its readiness, proficiency and interoperability during a live surgical exercise April 13 – 24 at Miesau Ammo Depot.
The 212th CSH’s Live Surgical Exercise, or LIVEX, kicked off on April 13 with its 4-bed Modular Early Entry Package occupying the field site while convoy operations were underway bringing the 84-bed package. Although non-doctrinal, the MEEP is 212th’s smallest deployable configuration containing emergency medical services, surgical capability, intensive care services, pharmacy, radiology and laboratory all in one tent. In just 6 hours, the CSH already had the ability to treat casualties including 2 surgical patients, whereas other field hospitals would traditionally start treating patients after 24 hours. By the end of Day 3, the whole 84-bed and the Tactical Operations Center were 100 percent operational.
At Day 4, the focus shifted to validation of the hospital and patient care staff. Tne 13 stations were in operation throughout the hospital ranging from patient records and documentation to equipment familiarization and clinical skills. Personnel had competency checklists that were validated by instructors as they went through the following skills stations: blood transfusion, nasogastric tubes, rapid fluid infuser and hyperthermia pump, arterial blood gas, forced air warming blanket, triple channel intravenous pump, feeding pump, 12-lead EKG, x-ray documentation, patient controlled analgesia pumps, lab forms, chest tubes and intravenous placement. Instructors used standardized education resource material for their instruction.
Spc. Justin Macias, a medic from the Emergency Medical Team said: “The skills fair was fun. The blood transfusion station was definitely a good refresher, especially for me working in the EMT, where we do that a lot.”
Pfc. Ian Perez, a medic from Medical Specialties Platoon, stated: “I enjoyed the skills fair a lot. My favorite station was X-Ray. Sgt. Taziole made the class fun. He made me understand why it was important to properly fill out the form. In my job, that is something I do often for patients in this section.”
The hospital started treating live patients on day 5. For three days, they provided Periodic Health Assessments to 37 Army National Guard Soldiers from 361st Civil Affairs Brigade as well as Post Deployment Health Reassessments to 17 Soldiers from the 67th Forward Surgical Team, who returned from deployment April 14. Twenty-six immunizations were given and 23 laboratory tests were drawn. Capt. Theresa Wolfe, a Behavioral Health Nurse and Officer in Charge of Medical Specialties shared her excitement: “I am really proud of my Soldiers. This is the first time after three years that the Medical Specialties Clinic was fully set up in the field and we are actually treating live patients! Everyone worked our processes out as a team and I am proud of what we have accomplished here.”
Meanwhile, healthcare providers and staff from NATO, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Ukraine, as well as Reservists from Medical Support Unit Europe and Airmen from 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron were embedded throughout the hospital operations. Soldiers from 30th Medical Brigade and 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion provided key support as well. “I was here at the right moment. It was great seeing the 4-bed MEEP expanded into the full 84-bed hospital and the soldiers training. The enthusiasm and hospitality was amazing!” said Maj. AJ Soons, a Dutch physician and Operations Officer.
Hungarian lab officer Master Sgt. Rita Botos, who was
integrated with other 212th CSH lab techs during this exercise, noted that while clinical practice is the same, stated: “It was a wonderful experience working in your field hospital and getting familiar with your equipment!”
Ukrainian Thoracic Surgeon Capt. Oleksander Linchevskyy further stated: “I hope next time you come to Ukraine and exercise with us.”
The exercise culminated with the 212th CSH operating on live patients on Days 8 and 9, as well as conducting a blood drive in the field. Eight surgeries were performed and nine surgical specimens were collected. The blood drive was equally successful. “This was the most exciting, most real military experience I’ve had in the field. We received twice as many blood units than we anticipated. The Command support was outstanding!” shared Staff Sgt. Michelle Church, the Blood Donor Center Recruiter from Landstuhl Regional Medical. 55 donors came in and 42 units of packed red blood cells were collected. 1st Lt. Patrick Kaer, OIC of 212th CSH Lab reiterated: “It was definitely good training for the 212th CSH to see the process of how we prepare for emergency drives in the field.”
Capt. Tonia Jordan, a staff nurse from EMT commented on her favorite part about the LIVEX: “Always being able to run through trauma scenarios with EMT makes for continued success. We were able to run through the scenarios in real time from beginning to transfer to other wards. This made it possible for us to identify shortcomings and areas that we could train on during our down time.”
Recovery operations from the LIVEX began April 22. But as the 212th CSH packs all their supplies and equipment, they are getting ready to join the 30th Medical Brigade for Combined Resolve IV on May 17 at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training sites. 4,700 participants from 10 NATO allies will converge with U.S. Army rotational forces in Europe to train together in an integrated environment.
The LIVEX reaffirmed the 212th CSH’s readiness and resolve to deploy at a moment’s notice to provide health services support while being at the fore of global medical interoperability. As Lt. Col. Marcus Hurd, Deputy Chief of Administration and Executive Officer, stated: “The 212th CSH is the medical ambassador to Strong Europe.”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2015 08:55 |
| Story ID: | 161890 |
| Location: | BRUCHMUHLBACH-MIESAU, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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