Stand-To!- Medical & Dental Readiness - Thu, December 06, 2007

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Edition: Thu, December 06, 2007
Rich-text Version <http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-12-06> 

TODAY'S FOCUS


Medical & Dental Readiness

What is it? The rigors of modern combat demand that Soldiers are physically
and emotionally prepared for the stress of combat operations in austere
environments. Medical readiness and dental readiness are important
components of overall preparation of Soldiers and units for deployment. The
Army requires well-trained and well-equipped combat medics and healthcare
providers to sustain Soldiers during deployment and to restore Soldier
readiness upon return. This includes periodic dental and health assessments,
timely clinical treatment, and behavioral health screening and treatment to
cope with the stresses of combat deployments. 

What has the Army done? The Army conducts pre-deployment health assessments
on every deploying Soldier in addition to annual dental examinations and
periodic health assessments. More than 36,000 Soldiers have been evacuated
from the Central Command Theater of Operations since October 2001. Nearly 90
percent of battlefield casualties survive their wounds due to a combination
of improved Soldier protective equipment, advanced tourniquets and
blood-clotting bandages, Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) certified
combat medics, a rapid aeromedical evacuation system, and resuscitative
surgical care placed far forward on the battlefield. More than 31,000
Soldiers have undergone medical care for determination of their fitness for
continued service. Approximately 79 percent of these Soldiers are returned
to full duty in both the active and reserve components. 

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future? The Army Medical
Department is working closely with the Army, Navy, and Air Force to improve
Individual Medical and Dental Readiness reporting. The Medical Protection
System contains available medical and dental information on every Soldier
and is accessible to commanders down to Company level. Unit Status Reporting
will be revised in FY08 to include four categories of Soldier medical
readiness. These categories will provide commanders a better overall
assessment of their Soldiers' individual medical and dental readiness. The
Joint Theater Trauma Registry provides clinical information on casualties
that can be merged with operational data in order to improve Soldier
protective equipment and outcomes. Since 2006, the Army has opened sixteen
Medical Simulation Training Centers around the world and will open five
additional centers in 2008. These simulation centers focus on sustaining
Combat Medic and Combat Lifesaver Skills using virtual patient simulators
and updated Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine. In January 2006, the
Army implemented a post-deployment health reassessment to assess the
physical and mental well-being of Soldiers 90 to 180 days after return from
deployment. 

Why is this important to the Army? Soldiers are the centerpiece of Army
combat formations. Medical readiness and dental readiness are important
factors in allowing Soldiers to function effectively on the modern
battlefield. Army Medicine allows Soldiers to remain in the fight and
maximizes the ability of the Army to retain trained and experienced Soldiers
if they become ill or injured. Decreased mobilization timelines reduces the
time available for medical and dental screening before deployment.
Therefore, commanders must have tools to monitor medical and dental
readiness along with a robust, responsive medical system that can provide
required care quickly. Once deployed, essential medical and dental care far
forward on the battlefield allows the Army to sustain Soldier readiness and
to quickly return the ill or injured Soldier to duty. When Soldiers cannot
be returned to duty quickly, they are evacuated and provided a level of care
designed to return them to duty at the highest level of medical or dental
readiness possible.


INFORMATION YOU CAN USE


*	2007 Strategic Communication Guide
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993>  - Read the 2007 Army Strategic
Communication Guide for key messages and updates. 
*	Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879>  
*	Army Public Affairs Portal
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363>  
*	Stories of Valor <http://www.army.mil/valor> 


NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY


*	SFACs on track to be fully operational in January (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/05/6458-sfacs-on-track-to-be-fully-operat
ional-in-january/> ) 
*	8th Army readies budget-cut plan (SAS
<http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50784> ) 
*	Wounded 'knight' returns to playing field (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/05/6463-wounded-knight-returns-to-playing
-field/> ) 
*	U.S. Army testing precision missiles that can change course (DN
<http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3231174&C=america> )


WAR ON TERROR NEWS


*	Commanders tell Defense Secretary Gates Iraq policy working, urge
vigilance (AFIS <http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48329>
) 
*	Pushed out of Baghdad, insurgents move north (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20071206565583.html>  | NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/world/middleeast/06mosul.html?_r=1&hp&ore
f=slogin> ) 
*	Security 'surge' shows signs of success in Baghdad (USAT
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-12-05-Surge_N.htm> ) 
*	Top U.S. military brass in Iraq resist quick drawdown (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20071206565642.html>  | LAT
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drawdown6dec06,1,264133
1.story?ctrack=1&cset=true> )


OF INTEREST


*	Safety center issues 'Family Engagement Kit' for redeployment
(ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/05/6462-safety-center-issues-family-engag
ement-kit-for-redeployment/> ) 
*	Soldiers, U.S. doctors help Iraqi girl burned by boiling water (MNF
<http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15643> ) 
*	America's Army goes Xbox, now PC (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/04/6434-americas-army-goes-xbox-now-pc/>
) 
*	Army: Soldier can be included in memorial (AT
<http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_memorial_071205/> )


WORLD VIEW


*	Three U.S. Soldiers killed in northern Iraq (XIN
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/>  | Story
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/06/content_7210292.htm> ) 
*	Car bombs kill 23 in Iraq during Defense Secretary Gates visit (RT
<http://in.reuters.com/>  | Story
<http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-30839020071205> ) 
*	Top U.S. general says no 'victory dances' yet in Iraq (CD
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/>  | Story
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-12/06/content_6303676.htm> ) 
*	Iraq: U.S. military says 3 insurgents killed, 19 captured in raids
along Tigris River valley (IHT <http://www.iht.com/>  | Story
<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/06/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Raids.php> )


WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS


*	Brain injury center planned for Bethesda (SM
<http://soldiersmind.com/> ) 
*	Oregon National Guard - Rescues flood victims (GAF
<http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/> ) 
*	Prosecuting the wounded (VL <http://thisvetslife.com/> ) 
*	But they support the troops (SAG
<http://soldiersangelsgermany.blogspot.com/> )

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