Thursday, April 19, 2007

Ohio Doctor Shares Life as Soldier in Iraq - 4

Ohio Doctor
Shares Life in Iraq
Mustang Aviation Clinic


Staff Sgt. Robert Kohler and Sgt. Courtney Chung
storing medical supplies at the Mustang Aviation Clinic.
Medics 265, Col. Ulrich and Col. Charles Killingsworth with Sgt Joy Buntzel
in an exam room at Mustang Clinic

When we think of military combat medicine, we think of hospitals treating combat wounds. But, there is more to it. Soldiers get sick, get hurt, and have all of the needs that most of us have. Clinics to deal with this are created in the midst of the war zone. For an aviation unit, they have the additional duties of flight physicals.

Col. Stephen Ulrich has been documenting his experiences for the Central Ohio News. In this installment, he discusses life at the Mustang Aviation Clinic.

"Sick call in the Army is a long noble tradition for sick soldiers and those who need to get acute sore throats and other illnesses treated. Also, chronic medical problems often flair up under the stresses of deployment such as wearing heavy body armor, exposure to smoke, fumes and dust and just long days of walking on loose gravel."

"Hearing is an important aspect of aviation medicine. Hearing is at risk in aviation due to constant exposure to loud noises. The loss of hearing can dramatically affect communication for the crew member and/or pilot which can be dangerous. The army has come a long way in recognizing and preventing hearing loss in aviators. The automated hearing test allows Sgt. Hugo to download previous hearing tests in the system so that we can easily see if there is any significant change in the soldier's hearing since the last exam."

To read the rest of Col Ulrich's story, go here: http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BA/20070402/NEWS01/704020301/1002

Previous Stories from Col Ulrich:

Part 1 & 2
http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/2007/02/ohio-doctor-shares-life-as-soldier-in.html

Part 3

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