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Fleet Surgical Team 8 Supports Iwo Jima ESG

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081014-05
Release Date: 10/14/2008 10:34:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad R. Erdmann, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 deployed aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in August as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).

FST 8, based out of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Va., is made up of 16 personnel, seven officers and nine enlisted Sailors. The primary mission for the team is to provide surgical capabilities and in-patient care services for Iwo Jima and the ESG.

"Our mission is to embark, and set up the operating rooms and the intensive care units (ICU)," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sylvia Miller. "We also work side-by-side with ship's company medical staff to ensure that we are ready to receive any casualties."

Amphibious assault ships, such as Iwo Jima, have operating rooms and space configured for a hospital ward, as well as an ICU. When deployed, these critical areas need to be manned with highly trained personnel in the event of casualties or critical care needs. FST 8 provides that knowledge and experience in several specialty areas.

"We bring with us a team of medical professionals, starting with a surgeon and one operating room nurse, two surgical technicians, and one nurse anesthetist," said Miller. "The ICU has one critical care nurse, one respiratory therapist and two general duty hospital corpsmen. We also have two advanced laboratory technicians, and one advanced radiology technician."

"Personnel trained with these capabilities are in short supply in the Navy," said Cmdr. Linda Beltra, officer in charge of FST 8. "The FST augments the medical department with people that have the skills to be able to utilize the operating rooms and inpatient capabilities."

The officer in charge serves as ESG surgeon and medical advisor to the ESG commander, and oversees all the other ESG medical departments and medical evacuations for the ESG. The team also has its own senior enlisted advisor and a medical administrative officer.

Since deploying Aug. 26, FST 8 has cared for 16 inpatients in the ICU, managed 28 MEDEVACs, and conducted 25 surgeries, 229 X-ray exams and 345 laboratory tests. FST 8 has the capability to perform simple procedures such as skin tags all the way to more complicated surgical procedures such as an exploratory laparotomy to amputations.

"The FST augments the medical department with people that have the skills able to turn the ship's medical department into a floating hospital for the entire ESG," said Beltra.

The Iwo Jima ESG is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.