BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The Craig Joint Theater Hospital recently received a new computerized tomography scanner to further support the mission here by providing top of the line medical care to Bagram personnel.
The new CT scanner, which cost $1.7million dollars, replaces a 2006 model that was used to treat 83,372 patients over the years. Due to the age and amount of money being spent to keep it operational, the hospital made the decision to purchase the new machine.
“The hospital decided to replace the CT back in 2012. I was the lead bio medical engineering technologist here when we were going to the joint acquisition review board to ask for funding and also ask AFCENT for money to purchase the new CT,” said Tech. Sgt. Steven Miller, 455th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of clinical engineering. “AFCENT agreed to our request and the machine was purchased in 2014.”
Only two medical personnel are trained to service the new machine. In an effort to save the Air Force money, the Airmen received manufacturers training prior to deploying here.
“SSgt Manuel Grimaldo and I attended four weeks of manufacturers training in Cleveland, Ohio, before this deployment. We needed this training because we are the only biomedical equipment technicians at Bagram that are trained to service it and the manufacturers do not provide onsite support in a war zone,” Miller said. “The install would have costed an additional $90,000 if completed by the manufacturers. We will also be able to use the training stateside to save the Air Force money on service contracts for the scanners.”
The new machine has more special features that the old machine it replaced, such as a lower radiation dose with higher image quality, faster reconstructions, faster scanner times and the ability to move more patients during a mass casualty.
Before bringing in the new machine, the team had to completely disassemble and remove the old scanner, which will be used to service another CT scanner back stateside.
“We had to completely disassemble the CT down to the frame to remove it from the building. There was 8,000 pounds worth of material we sent to DRMO,” Miller said. “All together we were able to save about $300k worth of parts to be used at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on their CT.”
With the new CT machine installed and ready for use, the team of radiology technicians are well trained and prepared to treat any Bagram patient.