738th Medics keep busy

Photo By Sgt. Jason Mikeworth | Spc. Eric Deemer and Sgt. Monica Nava (ACUs), from the 738th Medical Company give a Re-Deployment Medical Threat Briefing to the 1073rd Naintenance Company at Al Taqaddum, Iraq.  

12.01.2005

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

Medics from the 738th Medical Company are keeping busy at Logistical Support Area Springlake to support troops from the 44th Combat Support Battalion.

The 44th recently took over operations from the 620th CSB at LSA Springlake, which is located at Al Taqaddum, Iraq.

The 738th, a National Guard unit from Monticello, Ind., mobilized in August and arrived at Camp Victory in Baghdad late October to replace the 581st Area Support Medical Company.

A five-person detachment went forward to Springlake to support the battalion's operations there.

Consisting of one physician's assistant and four medics, the troop medical clinic (TMC) is responsible for the overall healthcare and medical briefings for the battalion.

"We mainly do sick call and help with the Post Deployment Health Assessments," said Staff Sgt. Renee Anker, NCOIC for the TMC.

During the health assesments, the medics ensure all medical information is updated prior to the unit's return to the United States.

"We really do care about people getting back to the States healthy," said Spc. Eric Deemer, who recently conducted a re-deployment briefing for the 1073rd Maintenance Company.

Using handheld personal data assistants, the unit is able to save updated information in the memory card. The information is then sent to a database.

"It makes it a lot easier to update medical information now using these," Deemer said.

The detachment is also getting ready to start classes on the new soft tourniquets, recertification on the Combat Lifesaver Course and briefings on the Anthrax immunization in the next month, said Sgt. Brenda Johnson, a medic at the TMC.

Although recertification classes are beginning, Johnson said now Soldiers will be trained to become CLS-qualified due to the small size of their unit.

"We just don't have enough medics to give the class and maintain the clinic," she said.
Since their arrival, the TMC has completed 500 immunizations and averages 10 to 15 patients a day.

"Much of that is due to the new battalion rotating in and not being used to the environment here," Johnson said.

The unit has not experienced any trauma oriented patients, which are directed to the Marine Surgical Support Team on the main side of the base, Anker said.

"We are supposed to do some cross-training with the Marines on trauma incidents so we can stay up to speed on trauma care. But as far as that is concerned they handle all trauma care," she said.

Prior to mobilization, the 738th trained at Camp Atterberry, Ind., with a team from the medical school at Fort Sam Houston.

"The team trained us on pre-hospital trauma life support systems and on the new Trauma Combat Casualty Course," Anker said.

The TCCC focuses on common injuries sustained in country by Soldiers who are conducting combat logistics patrols and combat operations.

"It was three days of scenario-based training that really helped us out prior to mobilizing," said Johnson, who is on his second tour for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Overall, the medics assigned to the 44th CSB are enjoying supporting the battalion and look at this as their opportunity to help be a force multiplier.

"It's our job to keep these Soldiers healthy so they can do their mission," Anker said.

Although away from their parent unit and the friends they mobilized with, the 738th medics will continue doing the job to keep everyone force ready.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2005
• Date Posted: 12.01.2005 07:24
• Story ID: 3918