FORREST CITY, Ark. - The federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority Christopher A. Masingill visited free health clinic set-up by the 3274th U.S. Army Hospital in Forrest City, Arkansas, July 28, 2014.
“It was good to see our work here being recognized at the highest level,” said Col. James R. Bruce, the officer-in-charge of the Forrest City site. The clinic is one of six health clinics operated by the 3274th USAH in support of “Arkansas Care,” a program hosted by the Delta Regional Authority to improve the health of residents in its East Arkansas footprint.
Soldiers of the 3274th USAH established six clinics that were free and open to the public, in addition to Forrest City site in the towns of Brinkley, Wynne, Earle, Newport and McCrory. The health clinics in support of Arkansas Care were part of the Pentagon’s Innovative Readiness Training program.
Masingill toured the Forrest City clinic that provided medical screenings and tests, and dental and vision services, spearheaded by the 3274th USAH Soldiers, as well as the reserve personnel from the Air Force, who ran the optometric shop and Navy, who manned the dental trailer with four patient bays.
By the end of the IRT exercise, the six health clinics had more than 4,000 individual patient interactions, issued more than 1,200 pairs of new glasses and pulled more than 500 teeth. In addition to the medical, dental and vision services, the clinic offered nutrition classes to individuals waiting to been seen.
The chairman said he was keying in on the teamwork between the DRA and ARMEDCOM and the level of care given to the local residents.
“It is a great partnership,” he said. “Having the Army Reserve Medical Command come down here is a real shot in the arm for the health of the people of the Delta Region and East Arkansas.”
Masingill said he was happy to see Soldiers in the communities. “It is a wonderful thing to see our men and women in uniform happy people right here at home—it’s a win-win for the Army Reserve and Delta Region.” The Delta Regional Authority is an eight-state federal agency created by Congress to foster economic growth in the Mississippi River Delta.
The Arkansas Care project is part of the DRA’s mission because businesses looking to move to the region or expand want to have a healthy workforce, he said.
The IRT program pairs reserve military units, specifically with medical and engineering specialties, with American communities with disadvantaged populations during the units extended combat training, what was also known as the summer annual training.
More than 50,000 individuals have been helped through the IRT military medical missions partnered with the Delta Regional Authority.