HONOLULU - - Members of the 256th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), Army Reserve (Ohio) and the 146th Medical Group (MDG), Air Force Air National Guard (California) conducted overseas Annual Training at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), 15th Medical Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Field (JBPH-HF), and Schofield Barracks Health Clinic (SBHC) Hawaii, from Jan. 21 through Feb. 7, 2015.
According to LTC Derek Morton, Chief PRMC Reserve Affairs, for the first time in TAMC history, the Army and Air National Guard personnel performed deployment-related medical training in a joint services environment.
1st Sgt. Dolly Conductor, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) for the 256th CSH contingent at TAMC, stated, "This was a great opportunity to cross-train our low-density military occupational specialties (MOS), such as physical therapists, operating room technicians, and dieticians, in a joint service environment. Even more critical, our Soldiers and Airmen counterparts were given the opportunity to provide patient care in one of the most advanced medical centers in the world."
Soldiers and Airmen also extended specialized skills to the benefit of active service members and their families at SBHC and JBPH-HF.
Physicians, dental personnel, and medical specialists utilized their extensive military and civilian medical expertise to enhance the services provided by the medical facilities.
Altogether, reserve personnel conducted over 3,200 clinical encounters during this annual training operation.
1st Lt. Sherita Caldwell, Registered Nurse, 146th MDG, worked on TAMC's medical/telemetry unit and stated, "It was great to see the collaboration of both military and civilian personnel with a patient focused mission. It was also a great honor to not only be the nurse of current military members, but we also had the privilege of serving military veterans, and their family members. It was wonderful to be an additional resource to the staff and patients on the hospital floor. We are truly grateful for this experience."
The mission went beyond routine training on advanced TAMC systems.
A combined, 83 Airmen and Soldiers performed numerous medical procedures and critical administrative functions.
Personnel were assigned to a total of 18 clinical and support departments to include surgical services, aeromedical evacuation, and critical care services.
Reserve personnel fulfilled imaging studies, filled prescriptions, performed dental procedures, and surgical interventions over the course of patient encounters.
The members of the 256th CSH and the 146th MDG would like to extend their heart-felt appreciation to the active Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force medical services family of TAMC, JBPH-HF, and SBHC.
According to Air Guardsman and Reservists, the courtesy, hospitality, and superior training provided by medical facility staff demonstrate their ongoing commitment to excellence in military medicine.
Both Reserve and Air Guard units hope to continue and perform their annual tour in TAMC in the near future.
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