Article Display

Air Force recognizes nurses and medical technicians

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Cossaboom
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Throughout the Air Force, May 6-12, nurses and medical technicians were recognized for the care they provide to service members and their families.

The theme of the week "ethical practice and quality care," serves as a platform to celebrate the ways nurses and medical technicians provide safe, efficient, and high quality healthcare to their customers. 

The Air Force has approximately 3,000 nurses and 5,000 medical technicians charged with maintaining the well-being and health of approximately 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide.

"Nurses and technicians provide cross-functional collaboration to improve patient care delivery," said Lt. Col. Heather Perez, 20th Medical Group chief nurse. "They assess the individual's health needs and the health needs of our populations through collecting, recording, and analyzing the patients or the population's health data from nursing history, physical examinations, preventative health assessments and other sources."

Nurses and medical technicians can serve in a multitude of medical areas such as ambulance services, family health, pediatrics, flight medicine, and intensive care units.

"As nurses and techs we have to be versatile," said Debra Green, 20th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrics nurse. "You never know when you'll have to fill another nurse's or techs position, so we have to be capable of performing various tasks."

Providing care for service members and their family's stateside is an important aspect of their mission, and the skills they are able to provide in a deployed environment are equally as imperative.

"Air Force nurses and medical technicians play a tremendous role in the defense of our nation," said Perez. "Both work aeromedical evacuation with a 98% patient survivability rate from combat wounds, transporting patients from the battlefield to advanced treatment both in Europe and the states." 

There are 28 nurses and 61 medical technicians currently assigned to the 20th MDG, servicing approximately 2,000 patients a week.

"The cost-effective, safe and quality healthcare services Air Force nurses and technicians provide is a critical component of the U.S. Military Health System and will continue to be so as we forge our way into a healthier, stronger future," said Perez. 

Nurses and medical technicians across the Air Force are charged with keeping service members healthy and fit so that they can continue to fly, fight, and win.