Expeditionary Medical Squadron sets up field hospital at Andersen
By Staff Sgt. Jess Harvey
7th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM -- In the corner, machines chime in time with the patients heart beat as the doctor and nurses, shrouded in gowns, gloves and facemasks, lay their stainless steel scalpels and clamps neatly on the plastic covered tray next to the patient.
One of the nurses squeezes around the operating stretcher to adjust the overhead lamps while the doctor picks up his tools and prepares to make the first incision. In the background, the hum of portable air-conditioning units mingling with the sounds of wind brushing the outside of the tent, serves as the only reminders that this isn't a typical operating room.
The patient, Senior Airman Benjamin Collins of the 36th Security Forces Squadron here, had a painful cyst and elected to have it removed at the field hospital set up in support of the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing.
He mentioned that he'd been a part of field exercises and deployments during his four years in the service and didn't have any worries about having the cyst removed in a tent.
"If I were out in the field, this is how they would take care of it," said Airman Collins with an air of confidence. "I've been here in the tent and [the staff] keep everything really sanitary."
Maj. (Dr.) David Copp, a general surgeon from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, said that pilonidal cysts, the type that Airman Collins had, are a common ailment.
"His problem was a very common reason people were sent home from Vietnam," said the doctor. "It could have caused him more severe problems if he'd been deployed."
Although Airman Collins is not deployed, Doctor Copp said the Expeditionary Medical Squadron [EMEDS] tries to augment the Andersen clinic when possible as a courtesy.
"Since we do have the specialists, we will also see [some of the] patients who are typically sent downtown," said Doctor Copp. The base clinic handles family practice issues, but most patients requiring more care are sent to the Naval hospital on the other end of the island.
"The clinic at Andersen does not have a surgeon on-hand," said Doctor Copp. "Rather than have that member go to Navy and have the same procedure performed, we completed it here.
"We have integrated somewhat with the clinic at Andersen and will see an occasional patient that is beyond the expertise of the physicians in the clinic," added Doctor Copp.
Lt. Col. Scott Russi, 7th Expeditionary Medical Squadron commander, said they do it for proficiency sake also.
"It was a chance to do something here, to use our equipment and to maintain our skills," said the colonel. The EMEDS clinic is basically an emergency room, operating room and an intensive care unit all at once.
"The EMEDS is, for the most part, a mobile hospital," said Doctor Copp. "We have capabilities that extend beyond Andersen's clinic that include a surgical capability as well as several experts in trauma, critical care and emergency medicine.
"The design of EMEDS is to take care of warfighting personnel, and the injuries that are encountered during missions," added Doctor Copp.
There mission here is to take care of the deployed troops according to Colonel Russi. Although Andersen has a clinic and there is the Naval hospital downtown, because of its versatility, the EMEDS clinic is much better suited to support the deployed troops, especially if they have to pick up and relocate.
"Everything we have here fits on a C-130 [Hercules]," said Colonel Russi. That makes it easier to move."
"We could take this and move it to a new area if we needed to," said Doctor Copp who said it could be done within two hours. "I've exercised this out in an hour and 45 minutes. We had it all set up and the only reason it took that long was because it took 15 minutes to get the communications up."
The team started setting up as soon as they hit the ground.
Every person in the team, from the colonels to the airmen, helped get the facility up and running, said Doctor Copp.
Not only have they worked well together, but they've worked with Team Andersen as well.
"Several of the functional personnel in the EMEDS have worked very closely with the clinic staff on multiple levels," said Doctor Copp. "Some of the surgeons and our dentist are helping out in the Andersen clinic."
The relationship has been mutually beneficial.
"They've been a great help to us," said Colonel Russi. They helped in getting some of the niceties and supplies EMEDS doesn't typically have in the field.
But, even with the cooperative spirit and assistance given to Team Andersen, the EMEDS' focus remains the same.
"We're here in support of the bombers," said Doctor Copp, who noted that EMEDS is here as much for the aircrew as for the maintainers, and they're prepared to handle whatever may arise. (PACAFNS)
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