Courtesy Photo | Spc. Christina Masterman, a native of Riverside, Calif., performs a Multi Stix on a...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Bethany Prince
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Imagine being stationed at a joint security station where one suffers from a toothache, possibly related to having a cavity, or even needs a flight physical that requires lab work.
While stationed back in the states, one has the ability to safely drive to the nearest dental or troop medical clinic. However, when deployed, a Soldier who is already taxed from constant patrolling, the last thing needed would be a toothache or lab work to add to his many stressors.
For Soldiers facing these scenarios, help is available at the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic, where a three-man dental team, as well as a two-man laboratory team, from Company C, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd "Strike" Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division – Baghdad, work to take care of their needs.
Movement to and from Camp Liberty is relatively simple compared to traveling to the heavily fortified International Zone to be seen at the Combat Support Hospital – a level III treatment facility. Riva Ridge is considered a level II treatment facility. Its mission is to provide combat health support to the Strike Brigade, East and South Camp Liberty and select units within MND-B.
Dental and laboratory services are provided during sick call hours and, for many, extended into the evening hours.
Capt. John Batson, from Little Rock, Ark.; Sgt. Tara Phillips, from Nanih Waiya; Miss., and Spc. Jessica Griffin, from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, spearhead dental services within Riva Ridge.
Since December 2007, dental services have been provided to more than 1,700 patients, a majority of those being Soldiers. They go above and beyond to meet the needs of the Soldiers.
"We work around Soldiers schedule to ensure their needs are met, said Phillips, the lead dental technician and non-commissioned officer-in-charge. "We try our hardest to see Soldiers before their convoy leaves, even if that means extending our hours into the evening. They are why we are here."
Batson said their service are vital in helping Soldiers maintain their dental readiness – and in saving teeth.
"We've been able to help Soldiers save a lot of teeth. Prior to us getting here, root canals would be started but follow up was never done," Batson said. "Many of our patients are left over from our predecessors, and we're able to improve their oral hygiene through our capabilities."
Cosmetic dentistry is also done in bulk at the TMC. Most patients are seen for root canals and extractions, but the dental team has treated a fair share of cavities. "We've made a lot of smiles prettier. People walk out smiling more," testified Griffin, a medic, who has been cross trained in dentistry.
The dental team has seen patients with more than 20 cavities but committed themselves to servicing their teeth by scheduling multiple appointments to fix the problems – ultimately raising the self esteem of the patient.
While patients benefit from their physical makeover, several improvements have been made within the dental space to ensure better performance and services are provided for the patients. Some of these include new cabinetry, shelves and the added capability of root canal services. Still to come, however, is the installation of a dental setup similar to what is seen stateside, equipped with suction, hydraulic chair, ceiling lamp and instrument tray.
In an effort to continue providing updated patient care, Riva Ridge TMC has significantly advanced its laboratory services to respond quickly to demanding requests that enable providers to diagnose patients.
The laboratory – which is staffed by Spc. Christina Masterman, from Riverside, Calif., and Spc. Lakeisha Burr, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., – is able to run multiple outpatient tests, to include both blood and urinalysis.
Some tests include complete blood counts, lipid panels, comprehensive metabolic panels and rapid chemistry tests comprising of strep, Chlamydia, pregnancy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, H. pylori, heart panel, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HIV.
Additionally, the TMC can collect Rapid Plasma Reagin, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, biopsies, microbiology samples and cultures. However, those samples must be sent to the nearest pathology lab for examination.
The most common tests, chemistry, CBC and urinalysis, take no longer than 20 minutes to perform, which enables a provider to diagnose patients quickly and return them to duty with prescribed medication if needed.
The lab, which has processed more than 1,700 tests since December 2007, has also overcome remarkable challenges, such as electrical shortages, power outages and burnt fuses. Their space is relatively enclosed and small, but with added shelving and an installed service counter, the space has become more user-friendly.
"You do what you can with what you have. You get the job done," noted Masterman.
Exceptional combat health support does not stop with outpatient lab draws but distinguishes itself by carrying blood product.
Traditionally, a level II treatment facility would not store blood product; however, given its mission, the Riva Ridge TMC stores eight units of blood to stabilize trauma patients until movement can be coordinated to a combat support hospital.
Luckily, the capability has only been needed twice.
"We don't see much trauma come through, so we haven't had to use the blood product but twice. Its good training for the medics if they ever work in an emergency room," said Masterman.
The blood product is sent from the Blood Support Unit in Balad to a level III treatment facility at Camp Cropper, where the Soldiers from the TMC pick the blood up. The blood can be kept up to four weeks before expiring.
Riva Ridge continues to expound on resources to improve patient flow and care. While all sections of the TMC are going through renovation projects, the dental clinic and laboratory are noteworthy due to the silent warriors battling tooth decay, saving teeth, and figuring out the chemistry of the body.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.31.2008 08:31 |
| Story ID: | 23059 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 259 |
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