Courtesy Photo | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted the semi-annual U.S....... read more read more
MANAMA, Bahrain Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted the semi-annual U.S. Central Command Force Surgeons" Senior Leadership Conference April 28-29 at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain.
Air Force Col. Doug Robb, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Force Surgeon, and conference initiator, said every six months he assembles senior medical leadership from the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR) to discuss tactical, operational and strategic objectives as they relate to medical care in the region now and in the future.
"We're primarily focused on how to better refine or better execute the medical systems we have in place so we provide the best possible care to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the ground," said Robb, a native of Tampa, Fla. The 26 participants included surgeons from regional countries as well as senior staff members from the Navy, Army and Air Force Surgeon General's office.
"We also invited specific subject matter experts for initiatives we developed and are executing in our [AOR]," Robb explained.
Army Col. Brian Lein, one of the senior leaders and presenters at the conference, said joint operations were prevalent in military medical centers throughout the region, and has resulted in more efficient medical care for deployed servicemembers.
"The medical community is probably the farthest ahead in the joint process and incorporating Army, Navy, Air Force, special operations and Marines into one unified healthcare system," said Lein, from Peachtree City, Ga. "Regardless of where you are, be it Afghanistan, Iraq, Horn of Africa or special operations, you've got resources that are available for you from all three services, and all three services are working well together. It's just a great joint concept."
Navy Capt. David Tomlinson, head of Medical Plans at Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., said he attended the conference to foster an understanding between 5th Fleet medical personnel and his office concerning the expediting of shipments of necessary assets.
"We, as service headquarters, have to support all the other component commanders," Tomlinson said. "A lot of things are starting to happen in the European command and elsewhere in the world. So the big thing is to let us know far enough in advance what you need and why you need it, so we can schedule the support you need."
Tomlinson said despite the challenges, NAVCENT personnel are doing a good job of maximizing their assets.
"They're figuring out what they can size down or move someplace else to make it more effective," he said. "We're doing all kinds of things today that we never would've thought of doing before."
"We are dedicated to making sure that the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the battlefield or in support of the battlefield are going to get the best care possible," said Lein. "And we're going to make sure that they have the resources available to them from any number of joint processes and systems. We've had some tremendous successes."
Robb said he measured success in the medical field in terms of disease, non-battle injury rates, and lethality of injuries rates, per 100,000 troops.
"Our goal is to provide a fit, ready force through medical readiness; and the rate per 100,000 troops is the lowest in recorded modern conflict," said Robb. "In fact, it's half what it was in Vietnam. We have better trained combat medics, a tremendous, robust medevac system and tremendously capable medical evacuation personnel.
At the completion of the conference, Capt. Vernon Morgan, NAVCENT Force Surgeon stated,
"The goal of this conference was to give [the component commander] and component senior medical leadership a current and future snapshot of the medical capabilities available to both U.S. and coalition forces in the AOR.
"The open dialogue, brainstorming sessions that occurred, and decisions made, enhance our ability to meet the future medical needs of the war fighter," he said. "Ensuring quality care continues to be delivered in a joint medical environment."
"I'm very, very proud of what all our coalition and joint medics are doing for our Soldiers, Airmen and Marines," Robb said. "The vision that our medical leaders had and the ability to execute in a wartime environment is one of the key reasons for our success in the region today."
| Date Taken: | 05.10.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2006 09:14 |
| Story ID: | 6332 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 57 |
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