Desert Storm: wounded Iraqi war prisoners keep US physicians busy
Article Abstract:
American physicians have treated more than 2,000 Iraqi prisoners of war since the cease-fire in the Middle East. Although most of the US military physicians have returned to the States, some physicians remain in the Gulf to care for the remaining US forces, and are also caring for wounded Iraqi prisoners. The US Army had 1,500 physicians in the Gulf, including 831 from the reserves and Army National Guard. The US Army physicians staffed 44 military hospitals with 13,000 beds. The US Navy had 843 physicians from various specialties including general medicine, surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine, family practice, psychiatry, pediatrics, radiology, ophthalmology, neurology, dermatology, pathology, and obstetrics and gynecology. Two US military physicians died in the Desert Storm operation and one is still missing. One physician died when his military vehicle hit a land mine, whereas the other physician died when his military truck rolled over. The missing physician was a pilot who failed to return from a mission. One physician was captured by the Iraqis after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq; she was returned with the other US prisoners of war in March. Many physicians from the reserves and National Guard who served full-time military duty have chosen to remain in the reserve forces. The role of the reserve forces will be re-examined, and the reserve and National Guard medical units will continue to be an important part of future medical military plans. The surgeon general of the US Air Force, Monte B. Miller, and the Navy surgeon general, James A. Zimble, will be completing their terms with the medical military force this summer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1991
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Cardiovascular diseases remain nation's leading cause of death
Article Abstract:
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), almost one million people died of cardiovascular diseases in 1989 and 69,080,000 people currently have some form of cardiovascular disease. The AHA estimates the cost of treating these patients is $108.9 billion. This figure includes lost productivity as well as diagnosis and treatment. According to the AHA, 1.5 million Americans will have a heart attack this year, and 500,000 will die as a result. In addition, 6,160,00 Americans have had a heart attack or angina (chest pain) or both. However, deaths from heart attack have dropped 30% during the past decade, and deaths from stroke dropped 31.5%. Data from the Framingham Heart Study indicate that 147,500 Americans will die from strokes this year, but according to the AHA, there are three million Americans who have survived a stroke.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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Computer-based medical translator system helps bridge language gap between physician, patient
Article Abstract:
The Multimedia Medical Language Translator (MLT) translates medical terms and commonly asked questions in 43 languages. Developed by the Navy Medical Corps, MLT is a CD-ROM based system that works on a laptop Windows-compatible computer. It can be used by physicians to determine which languages the patient speaks, and can answer many questions with voice-recorded messages in the patient's native tongue. Physicians identify phrases and terms on the system by using a mouse, then choose which language the phrase should be translated into. A voice or text message is then available for the patient. MLT is not widely available to the public, but the Navy has provided systems to some private facilities. First America Cooperative Engineering has received a license to produce a 15-language version of the program for limited public use.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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