NHB provides Consults and Care for Operation Pacific Partnership

By Douglas H Stutz, NHB PAO

SEATTLE, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) and other Navy assets remained ready to support Operation Pacific Passage and welcome returning family members from Japan at Seattle Tacoma (SEATAC) International Airport March 25.

To date, more than 2,600 DoD active duty service members, civilians, contractor and family members, along with pets, have arrived at the U.S. Army-led Joint Reception Coordination Center (JRCC) from Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Naval Air Facility Misawa.

Medical personnel from NHB, as well as the naval branch health clinics at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap Bangor and Naval Station Everett; and Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC), have manned the medical station with around the clock preventive care for all returnees until passengers are checked in.

"I know that if I got on a plane to return back home, with children, the family pet, and only what we could carry, if there was no one there to help I would be lost," said Cmdr. Pat Taylor, NHB's Family Practice assistant department head, who was on hand to provide patient triage needs March 25. "We had a bunch of the returning passengers say that it was so nice to have people help them."

At SEATAC, all passengers are walked through an assembly-line screening process which includes checking their orders or providing appropriate paperwork as needed, assisting with transportation and relocation details, child care services, housing needs, finance concerns, and medical health-care.

"We did some triage work. Other volunteers or service members manning the JRCC would come and tell us if someone was feeling sick," Taylor said. "We would immediately determine what they needed and handled it appropriately."

Most of the incoming passenger needs have been simple primary care services such as upper respiratory infections and gastroenteritis, which were readily handled with over the counter (OTC) medications.

A few also had procedures scheduled or had chronic diseases that needed follow on care that were handled.

NHB's Information Management Department quickly established a secure network connection using the existing wireless capability at SEATAC to establish access to the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AFHLTA), the military's electronic health record management system, to respond to queries on any current medications, current diagnosis, recent or planned procedures needs.

"Having the flexibility to set up secure computer access anywhere for ALTHA access is a huge asset for us and everyone needing our help," said Pat Flaherty, NHB IMD department head. "We can immediately document, look up a patient's history, refill prescriptions, and even provide consults right there at the airport directly for other military treatment facilities."

NHB's staff coordinated care for passengers at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, Naval Hospital Lemoore, Madigan Army Medical Center and their own facility.

"It might seem like just a little service to some, but for those returning passengers who are our patients, by being able to coordinate their care for them, that means they don't have to figure it out on their own. They certainly have enough to do. It made us feel good that we were there to help them out."

"I had the pleasure and honor to witness the heartwarming and compassionate assistance rendered," said NHB Commanding Officer Capt. Mark E. Brouker. "It is a beautiful thing to see how we take care of one another when a helping hand is needed. Many NH Bremerton staff are helping in this effort...directly on the ground at SEATAC and indirectly while here at the command. The entire command's – all hands - ability to juggle so many tasks and do them all extremely well is inspiring."

Along with evaluating and providing basic care and medical advice to 15 returnees, the medical professionals also backed up the Port of Seattle and SEATAC Emergency Medical Technicians and Fire Rescue team to evaluate and treat several patients at various locations throughout the airport.

"I was proud to be a part of the coordinated military, civilian and volunteer efforts that ensured that the transition of our service members' families was made as easy as possible," said Cmdr. Tony Battaglia, the provider who headed up NBHC Everett's medical support team. "Even with an event of this magnitude, the little things can make a difference, and we were frequently told we were doing that very thing. Medical care was only a small part of what we did, and with every encounter you could see some of the stress leave the family members."

"It was our pleasure to support the operation," said NBHC Everett officer in charge Cmdr. Doug Stephens, "We quickly staffed the medical areas down at SEATAC when we were called. For many of us, it was on a personal level as well. A lot of the staff here has served on tours in Japan and still maintain friendships there. We consider Japan part of the family so to help came naturally. From a medical support standpoint, the operation could hardly be improved upon."