Photo By Flavia Hulsey | A member of the Mongolian Armed Forces and a member of the U.S. Army observe as two...... read more read more
Nurses play an integral part of any nation’s care team, a U.S. Army colonel said during the opening of the Mongolian Uniformed Services Nursing Association conference.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to work alongside some of you this week. I have learned so much about the outstanding work you do and the challenges you face in caring for your country’s service members and beneficiaries. I’m excited to see the profession continue to flourish in Mongolia,” said U.S. Army Col. Takako “Lei” Barrell, director, Critical Care Services, Tripler Army Medical Center, during the conference June 9 at the Military Medical Center of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Barrell accepted the invitation to speak while visiting Ulaanbaatar for a Nursing and Medical Logistics Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) between the United States and Mongolian armed forces, which took place June 5 to 9.
A team of five nurses from Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, and from the 36th Medical Group, Guam, taught coursework in nursing leadership, caring for intoxicated patients, caring for suicidal patients, palliative care, and emergency care – first aid, triage, trauma and treatment.
“Focusing on strategic planning for the MAF to meet their mission requirements and sustained clinical and professional development and building on previous Nursing SMEE engagement is critical,” Barrell said of the exchange.
In addition to classroom and hands-on instruction, members of the U.S. nursing team learned about the MAF nurse corps and toured the Military Medical Center, meeting head nurses and team members from every section of the hospital.
One of the greatest benefits, Barrell said, was seeing the nurses in their own environment. She noted that the nurses were leaders in their departments and well-respected members of the care team.
Consequently, Leading Sgt. Bayasgalan Olonbayar, Military Medical Center of Mongolia, said his nursing staff was able to learn simply by observing the U.S. team in action.
“The program has helped our nursing department tremendously, especially since out military nursing is quite new,” Bayasgalan said, explaining the MAF nurses corps is only five years old. “One of the most important things we have seen is how military nurses should act – what the expectations of conduct are for military nurses.”
That shared understanding is one of the goals of any SMEE, which, according to Barrell, was achieved during this visit.
“We look forward to the opportunity to work side by side with the Mongolian Armed Forces health care personnel,” she said. “This is a great exchange; we learned a lot about each other’s health care systems and processes, and we strengthened partnerships between the U.S. and MAF by enhancing readiness and partnership objectives.”
Other members of the nursing team representing the U.S. included U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Lehr, commander, 36th Medical Group; U.S. Army Maj. Jason Marquart, director of Nursing, Deputy Commander for Medical Services, Tripler Army Medical Center; U.S. Army Capt. Eric Atencio, clinical staff nurse, Critical Care Services, Tripler Army Medical Center; and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Thomas, noncommissioned officer in charge, Department of Family Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center.
The U.S. and Mongolia Nursing and Medical Logistics SMEE has taken place since 2010. It is one example of U.S. and Mongolian military cooperation. This year, 2017, represents the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two counties.
It is this form of medical diplomacy that drives positive change in an increasingly global atmosphere. Medical diplomacy through global health engagements such as the SMEE support the Chief of Staff of the Army's top priority: Readiness. They also support the Army Surgeon General's priority of providing a medically ready and ready medical force. This mission is accomplished while working jointly with partners in Regional Health Command-Pacific, U.S Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Pacific Command (PACOM).
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2017 19:06 |
| Story ID: | 240421 |
| Location: | ULAANBAATAR, MN |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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