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Air Force medics partner with Iraqi Ministry of Defense hospital

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital took the first step in partnering with members of Iraq's Ministry of Defense Hospital on Dec. 22, 2009, to form the American-Iraqi Air Medical Evacuation and Medical Provider Training Course.

The first installment of training allowed the Iraqis to study burn care as well as practice proper medical evacuation techniques when transporting patients. Classes are scheduled for every two weeks, and topics will vary to achieve the goal of helping the Ministry of Defense establish a stronger medical program.

"We had to come up with a program that would meet the Ministry of Defense surgeon general's expectations," said Capt. Elizabeth Hoettels, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group civil-military operations officer. "Each installment of training will give the Iraqis an opportunity to work with a progressively more complicated patient, with the ultimate goal of them being able to take care of a trauma patient from (the) point of impact."

The two-day course began at al-Muthana Military Hospital, where four Iraqi medical evacuation technicians loaded a patient with a simulated fractured femur. As the group of medical professionals traveled to the hospital here, the technicians were able to begin their training on how to care for a patient in transit.

At JBB's hospital, the Iraqis were not only able to receive educational briefings, but also take part in some hands-on training.

The attendees saw real burn victims and watched as an occupational therapist demonstrated how to properly splint a burn fracture.

"This training is important because we don't see too many cases in our hospital," said the chief of surgery at al-Muthana's hospital. "It is continuous education for us to be able to see these patients and learn how to manage these cases. We really want to increase our learning, our experience, and learn from our American colleagues."

Although this course taught 11 Iraqi medical personnel, it is not limited to just the medevac personnel.

"We are attempting to maximize the training opportunity for all Ministry of Defense medical personnel, so we created a dual focus," said Captain Hoettels. "The ultimate goal of this military-military medical capacity-building program is to help establish an Iraqi military air medical evacuation program with trained flight surgeons, flight nurses, and medevac technicians."

The training program, as requested by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense surgeon general, also supports the overall effort to responsibly draw down U.S. forces in the country.

"The goal of this program is to allow the Iraqis to get medical sovereignty," said Col. Andy Marchiando, 332nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. "They will be able to take the information they learn here and carry it on once we leave. Hopefully, this will become a model system for the Iraqis."