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Navy Healthcare Continues Unabated at Role 3 Despite Rocket Attack

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS121101-17
11/1/2012

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Incoming rounds from a rocket attack did not deter Navy Medicine at the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 31.

For Cmdr. Kim Zuzelski, forward deployed from Naval Hospital Bremerton as the Role 3 director for administration (DFA), the last day of October was just as unique as all the rest during her individual augmentee assignment to the busiest trauma centered care facility in military medicine.

"I haven't had many typical days yet as this place is very dynamic," said Zuzelski, attesting she takes one day at a time.

Zuzelski's last deployment was to Kuwait several years ago supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom where she worked in a clinical billet at a Troop Medical Clinic. That setting was vastly different than her current location.

"We didn't get the combat casualties that we get here. If a patient was truly injured or ill in Kuwait, we'd send them on a medical evacuation out of country. I'm now at the facility that receives the most critical patients and point of injury combat casualties. As DFA on this deployment, I have a huge responsibility in overseeing processes that ensure safety and security of our staff and patients," Zuzelski said.

As DFA, Zuzelski oversees Administration that handles arrivals and departures of personnel, awards, correspondence and enlisted evaluations and officer fitness reports, along with Patient Administration and Tactical Operations Center that receives and processes notifications of incoming medical evacuations (MEDEVACS); Operations Management that includes Material Management, Security, Mailroom, and owns the tactical and non-tactical vehicles such as Humvees, ambulances and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles; and Information Management. Her days average a minimum of 11-12 hours, with hopefully just half a day on Sunday. By the time 8 a.m. rolls around, she has already been in the office for almost two hours, received the pass down from the command duty officer, taken a moment for coffee, held morning report with leadership and conducted another morning meeting. With all the prep work done, the day then begins in earnest.

"We are always preparing for personnel turnover, whether it's billeting arrangements, transportation for injured, or indoctrination. We have also had a couple very high profile Afghan patients since I've been here, which consumed a significant part of several days due to the multiple visitors and the security we have in place to handle them. The safety and security of our staff and patients are paramount. As a Role 3 facility, the most critical patients come here. All hands, administrative or not, participate with litter bearing when we have multiple traumas come in," said Zuzelski.

The Role 3 Multinational medical facility provides the highest echelon of care for active duty military, NATO Forces without organic medical support, local nationals - including the local populace, the Afghan National Army and Police - as well as third country nationals and civilian contractors. Trauma teams, and those in support, work around-the-clock. It is ajoint operation in handling, transporting and caring for those in need. The Tactical Operations Center is manned by both Navy and Air Force personnel to arrange patient movement and transfers throughout the theater. There is also an Air Force apheresis (blood/platelet donation) team and U.S. Army Dental Department that all fall under Role 3.

"We collaborate with Air Force on all patient movement and evacuations, and collaborate with the Army on nearly everything since we under an Army command. The NATO Role 3 reports to Task Force Medical-South, which falls under Task Force Medical Afghanistan, out of Bagram Air Base," said Zuzelski.

"I am thoroughly impressed with the caliber and professionalism of our staff and the outstanding survival rate of greater than 98 percent for our coalition forces. I've never seen a trauma team work, and our chief of trauma shared a photo from the operation room where several surgeons were simultaneously working on the same patient. It was amazing to see. There is also a Purple Heart Ceremony held for our heroes before their transfer to Landstuhl (Regional Medical Center in Germany). The Regional Command South commander routinely informs all present that Soldiers are willing to do their jobs that they do because they know that they will survive if they get to the Role 3. To be part of this team is the most gratifying experience. Everyone here knows that the role they have is critical to mission success, whether it is a clinical or administrative role," Zuzelski shared.

But there are constant threats, such as the rocket attack on Halloween.

"When we have rocket attacks, we seek shelter in a bunker or rocket resistant building. Once the 'all clear' is sounded, we have a set time to achieve 100 percent accountability of our staff. This process is down to a science now and I have to say we're just used to it. I didn't realize how much until our new group got here and I saw how the alarms affected them when they first heard the sound. They may also be used to them now as well," said Zuzelski, adding that everyone learns immediately to stay vigilant. Weapons with loaded magazines are always carried. Despite the rocket attack, there was a Halloween party. "Lots of the staff dressed up. The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Committee did a great job, and the First Class Petty Officers Association sold candy grams for a fundraiser, so there was no shortage of candy for our staff."