By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class David Didier
Essex Amphibious Readiness Group
USS ESSEX, At Sea - Fleet Surgical Team Seven (FST 7) performed an outpatent surgical procedure on a Marine onboard the forward-deployed amphibious ship USS Essex (LHD 2) while at sea, March 10.
Using only the staff and equipment onboard Essex, the medical team had the capability of completing the surgery safely, without having to transport the patient to a hospital.
"The surgery was a common one and went very well," said Lt. Cmdr. Kevi Christopher, a Surgeon assigned to FST 7. "The patent is now feeling better and is back to full duty."
Essex has a level two medical facility with 14 intensive care unit beds and a 44-bed medical ward.
"We have a radiology department, an intensive care unit, operating rooms and a medical ward I would say we are about the equivalency of a small community hospital," added Christopher.
The ship's extensive medical facilities, consist of six medical operating rooms, four dental operating rooms, medical laboratories, and blood supply storage facility.
Essex is second only to the Navy's hospital ships in medical support capability, providing effective care to anyone onboard.
The shipboard staff includes eight doctors, three nurses, and 24 corpsmen trained and ready to treat patients onboard or in the field during any possible humanitarian assistance operations.
The Essex Group is steaming to support a potential humanitarian assistance operation in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.
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