US sailors help organize files during Cambodia MEDEX 13-1

Photo By Sgt. Alyssa N. Gunton | U.S. Navy Lt. Joseph Labarbera, left, inputs data with Dorith Leuy at the Phnom Penh Preah Ket Melea Hospital Jan. 28 during Cambodia Medical Exercise 13-1. Labarbera and a team of four other sailors spent several days reviewing, collecting, inputting, processing and analyzing demographic and clinical medical data on patients from the hospital. The U.S. service members worked alongside Royal Cambodian Armed Forces medical personnel during subject-matter expert exchanges to increase Cambodian and U.S. medical capability, capacity and interoperability. The U.S. and Cambodian armed forces have conducted medical exercises together since 2007. Labarbera is a healthcare administrator with 3rd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Leuy is a translator for the exercise.  

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

01.30.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Alyssa N. Gunton 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A U.S. Navy healthcare administrator compiled Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ medical statistics at the Phnom Penh Preah Ket Melea Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 22-30 during the Cambodia Medical Exercise 13-1.

The sailors, who are assigned to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, took part in the exercise to share expertise and ideas to further develop both militaries’ medical capabilities. The U.S. and Cambodian armed forces have conducted medical exercises together since 2007.

The HCA team reviewed, collected, inputted, processed and analyzed demographic and clinical medical data on patients from the hospital, according to U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Kevin Reid, a healthcare administrator with the battalion.

The hospital’s system ensures Royal Cambodian Armed Forces medical providers have access to past medical information, but compared to an electronic-medical records system, it is very challenging to conduct an analysis of the thousands of patient encounters the hospital has seen over the years, according to U.S. Navy Lt. Joseph LaBarbera, an HCA with the battalion.

“While some team members completed data entry, myself and Lt. LaBarbera visited various clinics and learned about their system more comprehensively,” said Reid. “They employ a staff of nurses and aids to manage the medical records system, and although they have a central records collection office, several units maintain the records themselves. They file records by grouping them into units and by month and year. These groups are collected, bound together, and stacked on the shelves. They utilize individual patient records that collect and maintain all the patient data at that particular facility.”

The team reviewed and inputted over 4,000 patient records, totaling more than 28,000 individual data entries, according to Reid. This data was collected from April to October 2012.

“This time with the U.S. (service members) has been helpful,” said RCAF Maj. Chhean Dy, a nurse who manages records at the hospital. “I have learned new ways to organize and I wish to participate again.”

Many agree the exercise is useful and beneficial for both militaries’ medical providers and future patients.

“It is important to continue to foster this relationship with our RCAF counter parts,” said LaBarbera. “Through this partnership I feel we will be able to increase interoperability between our two services and the medical capabilities in this area.”

• Date Taken: 01.30.2013
• Date Posted: 03.17.2013 19:43
• Story ID: 103620
• Location: PHNOM PENH, KH