Partnering for medical care by Iraqi's

Lt. Col. Karen Wade, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief nurse, observes members of the Iraq Army participating in the In-Country Clinical Observership at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2010. The ICCO training includes advanced medical care skills, medical teamwork and medical administration for Iraq Army physicians and nurses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane)

Partnering for medical care by Iraqi's

A member of the Iraq Army places an intravenous line where it would normally enter a vein on a medical training manikin during the In-Country Clinical Observership at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2010. The ICCO provides Iraqi physicians and nurses observation, plus hands-on training experiences of clinic and hospital practices. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane)

Partnering for medical care by Iraqi's

A member of the Iraq Army places a tourniquet above the knee on a medical training manikin during the In-Country Clinical Observership at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2010. As U.S. forces continue drawdown at JBB, each participant will have the skills to create a teaching program. The ICCO is a program designed to create instructors while providing practical experience to ensure the Iraq armed forces medical service continues to develop its own medical instructors from within. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane)

Partnering for medical care by Iraqi's

A member of the Iraq Army stabilizes the head of a medical training manikin in the simulation of a possible injury to the neck or back during the In-Country Clinical Observership at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2010. After graduating, trainees will provide hands-on care to Iraqi Security Forces personnel and Iraqi civilians. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane)

Partnering for improved medical care

Published Nov. 2, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The patient for the day came through the door in a large black bag, and medics quickly dragged him onto the table. Then the patient's head popped off and a foot fell to the floor, but that was okay for the medics - it was just a medical manikin.

But when all the parts were in line and the day's training began, that manikin became a living, breathing patient who needed care. This scenario was common for the students during the In-Country Clinical Observership training program, which ended Oct. 29, 2010, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Training new ideas or procedures can be challenging, especially in the field of medicine, said one trainer as he and his students took a break.

"But thanks to the assistance from the Air Force Theater Hospital and the people here, we will be able to better train future Iraqi medical technicians," the trainer said.

ICCO's primary goal is to optimize the Iraq's Ministry of Defense clinical instructors through "train the trainer," where each trainee group receives instruction, makes improvements to the curriculum and then participates in teaching the next group, said Col. Lois MacDonald, Air Force Theater Hospital chief nurse.

ICCO provides Iraqi nurses both observation and hands-on training experiences of clinic and hospital practices at a U.S. military treatment facility, thereby greatly contributing to continuing success.

"After becoming instructors, these trainees will take what we have taught them and tailor it to fit the trainees they will have in the future," said Colonel MacDonald, a native of Pasadena, Calif., deployed from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. "In the last few weeks these trainees have really blossomed, especially because they are very passionate about being able to care for themselves and their country. They are always asking questions, wanting to know 'why' and 'how' for everything we teach them."

And the trainees have vowed that the training they receive will never go to waste.
"We promise that we will transfer this medical mission to the Iraqi medical personnel, and teach them as well as you have taught us," said an Iraqi graduate.