Airmen and soldiers, along with U.S. and Japanese civilian personnel from six different locations around the world, recently came together to conduct the largest aeromedical evacuation ever at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
The goal: move two critical patients to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, according to information from the Air Force.
On March 22, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs — one from March Air Force Base and the other from Travis Air Force Base, both in California — set out to move the patients.
Pulling off the aeromedical evacuation was no easy feat, especially as one of the patients had life-threatening conditions that required the care of a critical care air transport team. A team like that includes a critical care physician, a critical care nurse, and a cardiopulmonary technician.
"Normal missions fly with three to five medical personnel," said Staff Sgt. Brek Halgren, the 35th Medical Support Squadron aeromedical evacuation NCO in charge. "We brought in a CCAT team from Kadena Air Base, Japan, an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation team from Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and a few other specialists to assist the patient in critical condition."
Also involved in the operation were flight nurses, aeromedical technicians and medical attendants trained to perform routine care and to stabilize patients in flight, said Maj. Inna Mikhailova, the group practice manager for the 35th Medical Group. The Air Force also worked with the local hospital to support the mission, especially for the patient who was in critical condition.
"It was remarkable to see that much medical capability converge on our base for this service member," Halgren said. "Three doctors from Hachinohe City Hospital accompanied the transfer and were able to witness this incredible capability. It was a great opportunity to forge ties and form relationships with the hospital and medical staff that care for many of our critical Misawa beneficiaries."
Rachael Kalinyak is an editorial intern with Network Solutions.
