Air Force opens hospital in Iraq

5/27/2003 - OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN)  -- The "medical torch" passed from the Army to the Air Force at Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq with the grand opening of the Expeditionary Medical Support hospital. After nearly six years of development, EMEDS is the latest in expeditionary medical care.

The Army's 86th Combat Support Hospital is scheduled to close because the base no longer needs its 80-bed capacity, according to base officials. The replacement EMEDS unit is a 10-bed hospital.

In the first day and a half, we treated 12 emergency patients, one of whom might not have survived had EMEDS not been here," said Col. (Dr.) Darr LaFon, commander of the EMEDS. One of the big reasons the new hospital was able to quickly and effectively (treat) these patients is our radical approach to medical care. We've incorporated Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army medical professionals for the first time in Iraq.

The facility staff offers a full range of medical treatment, said LaFon.

We provide nearly everything you'd expect back in the states," said Capt. Karen Murry, a critical care nurse.

The new facility includes a pharmacy, routine and emergency medical care, and an operating room. It also offers dental care and life-skills counseling.

Dental care is already a hit, according to the noncommissioned officer in charge of dental services.

We've had some people in who haven't been able to see a dentist in nearly six months, and you bet they're happy to see us, said Staff Sgt. Robyn Nuss.

While they are not yet providing cleanings, Nuss said one dentist is now on the job and another expected in the near future.

We may be the only dental clinic in southern Iraq judging from how far our military patients are driving. The word's out that dental care is finally here, said Nuss.

The life-skills department has only been here for a brief time, "but already business is picking up as people hear about our services, says Maj. Tony Satterfield, life-skills chief and a clinical psychologist. We've been able to help others in our traditional counseling role, but we plan to steadily add more preventative help, such as stress-reduction and tobacco-cessation classes.