Close-up look at carrying and caring for wounded warriors

Ever wanted to fly on a C-17 cargo aircraft? You've seen it before. A big behemoth aircraft. I have wanted to climb on board since the first time I ever saw one years ago.

On Jan. 23, I had the opportunity along with 29 other health care leaders to learn about the mission and operation of the Air Mobility Command headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The AMC handles all the air evacuation of wounded soldiers around the world. More about that later.

The C-17 Globemaster is one of the largest, newest and most flexible cargo aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. Did I mention that it's big? It's 174 feet long, with a wingspan of 170 feet and a maximum payload capacity of 170,000 pounds -- more than 85 tons. It has a range of 2,400 nautical miles at a speed of 450 knots. I don't know the difference between a knot and "miles per hour" but that is fast -- approximately Mach 0.76 speed.

Brig. Gen. Byron Hepburn, MD, a graduate of the Air Force Academy and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences School of Medicine, a trained family physician and pilot, is commander of the AMC. His mission and responsibilities embrace all aeromedical evacuation support and clinical oversight for the global Air Force air evacuation system.

He was our host for the experience through the offices of the U.S. Air Force National Civic Outreach Program. The purpose of the program is to educate medical leaders on the extent, quality and depth of medical care our services provide our wounded warriors across the globe.

The C-17 transports cargo all around the globe in support of deployed troops located in the far reaches of our world. But even more important, the C-17 can be converted into a sophisticated medical evacuation aircraft to transport our wounded warriors within 0 to 72 hours from the time of injury to deliver the warrior to the facility that can provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place by the right medical care personnel to achieve the right outcome.

Starting in Chicago on a cold January morning, our group flew to Wilford Hall Medical Center located on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. In the brief 2½ hour flight, Dr. Hepburn and the professional staff demonstrated how they provided individualized medical care, determined by the needs of the soldier, from flights out of Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas to hospitals around the world. The C-17 aircraft can handle up to 36 litters per flight along with ambulatory soldiers with less critical medical needs.

Based upon medical requirements, sophisticated intensive care monitoring is utilized along with IV medications, oxygen and other medications as needed. Teams of a physician, intensive care nurse and respiratory therapist are mobilized to provide the required individual intensive medical care our soldiers need.

The group visited the Wilford Hall Medical Center headed by Maj. Gen. Thomas Travis, MD. The 59th Medical Wing, which operates WHMC, is the largest Air Force medical facility in the world with over 5,600 military, civilian and contract employees, students and residents. What an experience to see the sophisticated care rendered by the dedicated and well-trained medical and support teams.

Working in partnership with the Army, the air evacuation/medical teams have created a flexible and adaptive system that, for instance, collects uniform data on every injury that has resulted in a flexible, real-time adaptive system that has significantly increased battlefield and evacuation survival.

The current 92% battlefield and evacuation survival is a marked improvement from a 75% survival in Vietnam. This extraordinary improvement has been achieved in concert with the Army medical team in providing advanced triage and stabilization of the traumatized soldier.

We visited the Center for the Intrepid, an innovative rehabilitation facility, paid for by contributions of more than 600,000 Americans. From conception to completion in 16 months -- what an effort. The facility was then turned over to the military to staff and provide advanced care for our wounded soldiers. Care is provided in rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physical therapy and sophisticated human motion laboratories along with individual care management.

Our C-17 aircraft flew out of the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard. Yes, the air evacuation system is a combination of active duty and Air National Guard personnel. These dedicated professional Air National Guard are an everyday group that provides worldwide care, side by side with active duty Air Force personnel. It takes a team approach to work.

It was an incredible one-day adventure and learning experience. So if you are a physician, take the opportunity to provide care for active-duty personnel, their families, retirees and Air National Guard volunteers.

I encourage you to provide them with the care they need, just as they are sacrificing to provide needed care to our wounded military troops. As a matter of fact, the Air National Guard is always looking for good and good-hearted physicians who would want to join their ranks. That might be you. Food for thought.