Air Force surgeon general returns to Heartland

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ben Gonzales
  • Air Force News Agency
OMAHA, Neb. (AFPN) --  The surgeon general of the Air Force and native Nebraskan returned to his home state during Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 13 in Omaha.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush, originally from Gering, Neb., retraced his roots and visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine here where he learned his profession.

The Air Force's top doctor also meet Heartland medics to discuss the strategic partnership between the Air Force and the medical school here and how medical Airmen are making a difference in the war on terrorism. General Roudebush visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center to tour the only civilian biocontainment unit in the nation, and spoke to physicians and students at the school. School officials help train physicians to become Air Force doctors.

The 1966 Gering High School graduate received his bachelor of medicine degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and then earned his doctorate of medicine from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha in 1975.

"My education here was an extraordinary effective preparation for all the things that I've done in the Air Force," General Roudebush said. "As a Nebraskan, I enjoyed the benefit of the extraordinarily high quality of education that is offered here."

In his position, the general advises Air Force and Defense Department senior leaders on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Air Force people. General Roudebush manages more than 43,100 people assigned to 75 medical facilities worldwide. Many of these medics play a critical part in the care for American servicemembers wounded fighting the war on terrorism.

One aspect the general sees as vital to the fight is the ability to care for wounded warriors serving throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Servicemembers have been injured, treated and transported in as little as 24 hours because of the Air Force's aeromedical evacuation capability.

Airmen have the "ability to bring (injured warfighters) home safely in our Air Force air evacuation system utilizing our critical care air medical transport teams to transport these wounded individuals across thousands of miles not simply sustaining them but actually improving their medical condition," he said.

With medics and major hospitals staffed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military is seeing the lowest died-of-wounds rate in combat history with the odds of survival above 90 percent once an injured person arrives to care centers, according to the Air Force Surgeon General Office's Web site.

The general also spoke of the strategic partnership the Air Force medical service has with civilian health care providers.

"Our medical centers provide the majority of health care for our Airmen, their families, beneficiaries, retires and their families," General Roudebush said. "Quite honestly though, we cannot do it all. Some locations do not have the full spectrum of care available to do that so we rely on our civilian counterparts to provide that care. The physicians in Bellevue and the Omaha area have been very forward leaning and very helpful in providing that care we are not able to provide within our facility at Offutt."

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine has been a solid partner in the Air Force family practice residence program, he said. This program gives future Air Force physicians an added experience in care in the rural environment, which parallels what military doctors are faced with when they transition to full time active duty in the Air Force.

"The relationship has been very positive both in the quality of training and the breadth and scope of training to provide really high quality and well trained family physicians to do the mission wherever we find ourselves around the world," the general said.

With a primary focus on taking care of Airmen, General Roudebush understands the stress and demand frequent deployments can have on servicemembers and their families. Air Force medics closely monitor Airmen's health with assessments before, during and after deployments.

"Annually, we do a preventive health assessment, which is a very focused look at individuals to ensure (Airmen's) health status is as it should be and any occupational issues or physical problems are attended to," he said. "Just prior to deployment, we do a predeployment health assessment that allows us to ensure their health is as it should be and if there are any issues we tend to them. During deployment, we very closely survey our Airmen to assess any potential health or occupational hazards that they might encounter while they are deployed. Then as they are returning from deployment, we do a post deployment health assessment to see if anything has changed and to see if there are any immediate issues that we need to attend to.

"As part of all of those assessments, we do ask rather pointed questions relative to the emotional, health or well-being that might be there. Then at six to seven months post deployment we do a reassessment to one more time reassess their health and any mental health or emotional issues because it it's not uncommon to take that period of time for concerns or issues to emerge. This is for active, Guard and Reserve - all Airmen. As we look at these results, we can see instances where individuals have developed concerns or symptoms that could be potentially linked to post traumatic stress disorder. (Air Force) rates are not as high in all regards as other services, but our deployment circumstances are different as well. The fact is, whether you are a Soldier, Sailor, Airmen or Marine, if you deploy it is a stressful circumstance. It is our duty and obligation to track that very closely and to intervene as early as possible in order to assure return to health."

Air Force Week in the Heartland runs from Aug. 9 through 17. It is a part of a proactive initiative to increase communication with the public. Air Force Week includes community visits and talks by Air Force officials, flight demonstration team performances and displays highlighting the Air Force men and women serving on the front lines.

For more information on Air Force Week in the Heartland activities, visit www.airforceweekintheheartland.com.