Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Six of the seven Task Force 38 medics pose with Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen....... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The Task Force 38 medical section worked hard to support its brigade, its subordinate units, aviators, civilian contractors or anyone else seeking medical care here at Joint Base Balad, even though the section was only a team of seven Soldiers.
"To date we've seen over 4,500 patients with more than 440 being civilians," said Indiana Army National Guard Capt. John Beagle, Task Force 38 medical operations officer and clinic officer in charge. "We've seen various civilian contractor and support units, and we've seen all branches of the military."
Task force medics supported JBB by running a multitude of missions from the Spc. Michael Cote Aviation Medical Clinic here. They conducted daily sick call, immunizations updates, hearing tests, flight physicals, maintained medical logistics and records, ran a pharmacy, worked as base emergency first responders and transported troops to the JBB hospital when a higher level of care was needed.
"With medical being a small community and a valuable asset, we regularly try to assist where we can to ensure maximum medical coverage to all of JBB's tenants," said Beagle, a Carmel, Ind., resident.
Beagle said to cover all of the missions, his team had to rely on each other to go above and beyond what would normally be expected his Soldiers' ranks.
"Most of my staff were wearing multiple hats or were running areas that were previously manned by a [larger] team," said Beagle. "I had junior enlisted doing the work that was previously done by officers and non-commissioned officers, and NCOs and officers were doing individual work that was previously done by several personnel."
Even though the medics were busy working multiple jobs to help the base, Task Force 38 Soldiers said the medical section still went outside the call of duty to ensure its own unit's Soldiers' needs were met, physically and administratively.
Indiana Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Cooper, Task Force 38 plans non-commissioned officer, said he received reminders to visit the clinic and update his medical files and records.
"The medics reminded me a few times via e-mail or phone call when I needed to come in and get my shots updated," said Cooper of Greenwood, Ind. "It was nice having knowledgeable people working in the medical section who were willing to help out even while off duty."
Between juggling their job demands and schedules, Indiana Army National Guard Capt. Leslie Good, Task Force 38 registered nurse and case manager, said the group of Soldiers trained others in Task Force 38 to spread their medical knowledge and skills.
"We taught combat life saver courses, educated commanders on theater guidelines, and provided weekly training for medical professionals," said Good of Carmel, Ind. "We also trained new providers and medics from other units as they rotated in and out of the base."
Good said as a group, she felt the medical section met its deployment goals of providing optimal patient care and maintaining medical coverage for the base.
"Everyone has worked hard and done a lot to make the clinic function smoothly," said Good.
As Task Force 38 prepared to end its deployment, the medical section Soldiers worked on training their replacements on all of the missions, processes and responsibilities of being a troop medical center at Joint Base Balad, while still providing aid to Soldiers and civilians. Good said training the group's replacements included ensuring they had access to electronic systems and accounts to place medical supply orders.
"We had to make sure the new medics had the ability to work in their area effectively," she said. "The leadership on both ends was able to adjust appropriately to meet both units' sets of mission requirements."
Throughout the deployment, Task Force 38 medics demonstrated their care-giving abilities while taking care of patients, assisting base medical facilities and training fellow Soldiers for success. The unit is scheduled to return to Indiana summer 2010 after their approximate yearlong deployment here.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2010 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 50945 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 206 |
| Downloads: | 160 |
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