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Deployed medics help troops heal

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A group of Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines are all playing cards while telling stories and laughing, a usual setting in a deployed environment.
But for these warriors it's much different.

Just days prior, each of these individuals were downrange in the heat of the action and were injured due to explosion, gunshot, or other instance. And due to a program here Southwest Asia, they are given the opportunity to be treated here in the area of responsibility and more quickly return to their unit and their mission.

"The Intra-Theater Care Program is a program where injured troops from [Forward Operating Bases] have the opportunity to actually rehabilitate in theater," said Staff Sgt. Marlon Smith, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group ITCP NCOIC. "The goal is to get them back to their FOBs, back to the fight and back in their mission."

Sergeant Smith begins many of his days meeting with the wounded servicemembers during one of the two morning musters. There is one at the coalition compound and one at the medical clinic to accommodate all the patients. During this time he goes over appointment changes, problems, concerns, flights either home or back in theater and morale trips.

"I develop a rapport with them," Sergeant Smith said. "Honesty and trust is important. I'm hoping to rehab them here and get them what they need."

While the first morning muster is for the mobile patients, the second one is held in the hospital where the non-mobile also reside. Sergeant Smith also gets food and other necessities for those who can't move around base easily.

The program's success hangs on the efforts of a few sections of the 379th EMDG. Aside from Sergeant Smith, physical therapy, the general surgeon, the orthopedic surgeon, mental health and nursing all play a huge role in getting troops back in the fight.
The medical staff had good things to say about the program.

"It's great the patients are right here," said Dr. (Capt.) Felix Islas, 379th EMDG physical therapist. "The program is fantastic. We have a great team and everything is set up perfectly.

Tech. Sgt. Micki Hinnershitz, 379th EMDG physical therapist, said their goal is to get them back to their mission within 30 days.

"This is as far forward as we can get without being in the fight," Sergeant Hinnershitz said.

The servicemembers expressed extreme gratitude for all the help and support they receive here.

"Here is a complete 180 from what we are used to," said Pvt. Joshua Teel while in his physical therapy session with Sergeant Hinnershitz. "Out in the FOBs it's nothing like this. We came here and they treat us like royalty."

Private Teel has been attending physical therapy sessions three times a week after tearing cartilage in his arm while rolling from a vehicle in an IED blast.
The injuries the doctors see vary.

"It's rewarding being able to see patients coming in that are injured or sick and getting them back duty which is what they all want to do," said Maj. Bruce Lynch, ITCP general surgeon.

The extent of the injury determines if the patients go back downrange or home on one of the missions that occur a few times a week.

"If there is a mission that day it's an all day event," Sergeant Smith said. "We have to get all the patients prepared, packed and medically cleared."

Sergeant Smith, and other team members, bring the outbound patients to the flightline and load onto a C-130 aeromedical flight for take-off.

"For me it's tough because you get to know the folks and you want to make sure they are safe," Sergeant Smith said. "I'm proud of them and the recovery they've made. Overall, I am excited for them and I feel like our mission was successful."

Sergeant Smith has been working this program for a few months and has seen many patients come and go.

"From the beginning I pick them up from their AE mission and I am with them until they leave," Sergeant Smith said. "This has been the most rewarding position of my life and it's going to be something I always remember."