Friday, December 17, 2004
Can you tell us about the medical/health care system for our troops? i.e., is it focused on critical care needs or are they good at providing what is needed for soldiers with chronic conditions, basic ailments, etc?
Well, the mission of the Army medical system is "To Preserve the Fighting Strength". That sounds like we put a field dressing on and push them back in the fray, but it's usually not that heartless (I'll post something later on dentistry). One of the reasons for this, I think, is the professionalism of the medical corps which seems to flow from the medical profession as a whole. A military hospital or clinic is pretty much just like any other medical facility with the staff thinking of themselves as a care providers first and Soldiers, Airmen, or Sailors second. I do think that the military has served as a model for HMO and other cost cutting measures. An RN take a patient history? Forget it. And, of course, physician’s assistants got their start in the military.
Does the system vary by which branch you are in?
My opinion? Highest quality is Navy, then Air Force, then Army. In the field, service members go to the closest or most appropriate facility.
You are a medic (or had been one?) -- can you tell us what that entails?
I was a line medic attached to a light infantry platoon. We held sick call, in which we gave medications, removed ticks, etc. In the field we treated burns, splinters, blisters, sprains, cuts from someone screwing around with their oversized knife, and gave IVs for dehydration. If it was something we couldn't handle, we'd transfer them to "higher" (our logistical and experiential superiors). A lot of the time, it was just humping a ruck sack - and my medic bag - through the woods. Our section leader, Dave, was a big guy and he used to carry that bag like a sack lunch. Actually, the most fun I had in that unit was when we went to Germany and I rode in an armored personnel carrier during a large scale war game. It was so realistic and it sure beat walking!
Is there a "hospital" there for the injured, or are soldiers transferred to another country if they need hospitalization/rehab?
Hospitals here could have a particular patient for a few days or weeks. If they need special treatment, or won't be returning to duty for an extended period of time, they may go to Germany or back to the US. If a trooper is still capable of doing their job, they could continue physical therapy here in Iraq.
Once you have completed your service, do you automatically get into the VA system here or do you have a choice, depending on what insurance you get through your employer?
I'm not sure. I believe we will go through a screening process when we demobilize to find out what medical conditions persist. At that time we will be given information on the VA, etc.
Well, the mission of the Army medical system is "To Preserve the Fighting Strength". That sounds like we put a field dressing on and push them back in the fray, but it's usually not that heartless (I'll post something later on dentistry). One of the reasons for this, I think, is the professionalism of the medical corps which seems to flow from the medical profession as a whole. A military hospital or clinic is pretty much just like any other medical facility with the staff thinking of themselves as a care providers first and Soldiers, Airmen, or Sailors second. I do think that the military has served as a model for HMO and other cost cutting measures. An RN take a patient history? Forget it. And, of course, physician’s assistants got their start in the military.
Does the system vary by which branch you are in?
My opinion? Highest quality is Navy, then Air Force, then Army. In the field, service members go to the closest or most appropriate facility.
You are a medic (or had been one?) -- can you tell us what that entails?
I was a line medic attached to a light infantry platoon. We held sick call, in which we gave medications, removed ticks, etc. In the field we treated burns, splinters, blisters, sprains, cuts from someone screwing around with their oversized knife, and gave IVs for dehydration. If it was something we couldn't handle, we'd transfer them to "higher" (our logistical and experiential superiors). A lot of the time, it was just humping a ruck sack - and my medic bag - through the woods. Our section leader, Dave, was a big guy and he used to carry that bag like a sack lunch. Actually, the most fun I had in that unit was when we went to Germany and I rode in an armored personnel carrier during a large scale war game. It was so realistic and it sure beat walking!
Is there a "hospital" there for the injured, or are soldiers transferred to another country if they need hospitalization/rehab?
Hospitals here could have a particular patient for a few days or weeks. If they need special treatment, or won't be returning to duty for an extended period of time, they may go to Germany or back to the US. If a trooper is still capable of doing their job, they could continue physical therapy here in Iraq.
Once you have completed your service, do you automatically get into the VA system here or do you have a choice, depending on what insurance you get through your employer?
I'm not sure. I believe we will go through a screening process when we demobilize to find out what medical conditions persist. At that time we will be given information on the VA, etc.
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