Photo By Pfc. Michael Schuch | Dr. (Lt. Col.) Margaret Swanberg, of Montgomery Village, Md., tests the basic motor...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Michael Schuch
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Medics and doctors play a key role in maintaining the health and safety of U.S. Soldiers throughout Iraq. Lt. Col. Margaret Swanberg, a neurologist from Montgomery Village, Md., is one such individual, instrumental in Soldiers' care.
She is the only neurologist deployed to Iraq.
One of the leading injuries of Soldiers here is traumatic brain injuries as a result of explosions from improvised explosive devices. Traumatic brain injuries can vary from compression and bruising of the brain to damaged nerves. These are the nerves which send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
"The fact that [the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division] ended up with a neurologist was really just a matter of luck, but it has given me the chance to evaluate Soldiers in person and give the other medics and doctors guidance and training," Swanberg said.
Swanberg serves as the Officer in Charge of the Sgt. Robertson Aid Station on FOB Hammer. Her dedication to the job benefits not only the Soldiers of 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., but those throughout Iraq as well. Swanberg trains medics throughout Iraq on the military acute concussion evaluation.
Swanberg spent the last 6 years working at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., as a behavioral neurologist with patients who have Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
The decision to deploy Swanberg with the 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., came when the Walter Reed Army Medical Center leaders received a request for a doctor and reviewed their list of Soldiers on deployable status.
The professional filler system, which holds the names of all primary care military doctors, chose to send Swanberg because of her experience in a field that would help Soldiers in Iraq.
The MACE technique allows medics and doctors to tell whether Soldiers show signs of traumatic brain injuries by asking a series of questions. The questions test their long-term and short-term memory, as well as basic motor functions.
"The symptoms [of traumatic brain injuries] include headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears and the 'thousand yard stare'," Swanberg said. "These are all indicators that the Soldier could be the victim of a traumatic brain injury, and that person should be screened."
Being the only U.S. Army neurologist in the country is a huge responsibility; but Swanberg feels more than up to the task.
"I provide consultation [to the unit medics and doctors] through e-mail and in person, and if need be, I am able to fly to Baghdad and even to the FOBs to evaluate and treat the Soldiers," said Swanberg. "Without having a neurologist in country, the Soldiers would have to be sent back to our medical facilities in Kuwait or even Germany for treatment. That can take a month or longer to get the Soldier back in his unit."
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2008 03:10 |
| Story ID: | 21804 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 168 |
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