Title: Transformed Battlefield Medical Care Saves Lives
URL Source: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/539888/transformed-battlefield-medical-care-saves-lives
Markdown Content:
===============
Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th
* [REGISTER](http://www.dvidshub.net/member/registration)
* [LOGIN](http://www.dvidshub.net/login)
(e.g. [email protected])
– [x] Remember me
[Forgot Password?](http://www.dvidshub.net/forgotpassword)
[
* [SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature/SECDEFHegseth)
* [Combatant Commands](http://www.dvidshub.net/cocom)
* [Features](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature)
* [Content](http://www.dvidshub.net/search)
* [Images](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=image)
* [Video](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=video)
* [News](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=news)
* [Audio](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=audio)
* [Graphics](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=graphics)
* [Podcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)
* [Publications](http://www.dvidshub.net/publication)
* [Webcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast)
* [Stories](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Storytellers](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Media Awards](http://www.dvidshub.net/awards/guidelines)
* [Hometown News](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice)
* [Releases](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice/map)
* [Hometown Heroes](http://www.dvidshub.net/map)
* [Holiday Greetings Map](http://www.dvidshub.net/holiday)
* [Units](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit)
* [Newswire](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts)
* [Media Requests](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Create Request](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Media Press Kit](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest/presskit)
* 
### WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
### 01.30.2006
### Story by [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore) and [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore)
### [Department of War](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC)[](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/unit/TPC "Search for Department of War media")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/rss/unit/66 "RSS feed for Department of War")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> March 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> February 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> January 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> December 2016")
[✔✗Subscribe](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts/unit/66 "Subscribe to Department of War")
173
The military health system has revolutionized battlefield medical care in the past four years, reducing fatalities and raising the quality of care to all-time high levels, two Defense Department officials said here today.
Injured servicemembers are now more quickly transported from the battlefield to medical facilities where they can receive advanced care, and more of them are surviving because of it, David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said at the State of the Military Health System 2006 Annual Conference.
"You have produced the lowest loss among wounded that this country has ever seen," Chu said to the audience of military health care professionals.
Equally important, servicemembers with injuries that 10 years ago would have excluded them from military service are being rehabilitated and returned to the fight, Chu said.
The success of the military health system with combat injuries can be attributed to increased capability and equipment of medical units on the front lines, but also to the quality of care given by the medics en route as a servicemember is transferred, Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of TRICARE Management Activity, said at the conference.
"Your expert professionalism and your compassion are powerful ingredients in helping to get our troops back to duty and assisting them in any way," Winkenwerder said to the audience.
Servicemembers also are better prepared before they go into a combat zone, Winkenwerder said. They have better knowledge of fitness and environmental awareness, and they have a more comprehensive medical team behind them that is prepared for any need that may arise, he said. The knowledge of having this medical support behind them gives servicemembers more confidence, which is essential to a successful military, he said.
"It's the confidence of the warrior that he or she has the best medical support right behind them," he said. "This confidence is higher than ever."
Not only are servicemembers better cared for while fighting on the battlefield, they are also better covered after they return, Winkenwerder said. The military health care community has employed new initiatives to better recognize and treat post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
Military members returning from deployment now have to go through a second health assessment to look for psychological problems, he said, and family members are being taught about signs and symptoms to look for, and where to go for help.
The military health care community also demonstrated its capability in its response to the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan, Chu said. "The effort to which you contributed changed the face of the United States in those crucial areas of the world," he said.
Many changes are ahead for the military health care community, but DoD is committed to building upon the strong foundation of quality care and high standards that has been established since the war on terror began, Winkenwerder said.
"The military medical forces of the United States have emerged from the last four years of engagement around the world and in your own backyard with a reputation for excellence not witnessed before," he said. "There is a future medical force that we all have a responsibility in shaping and that I know everyone has an interest in ensuring is the best, the most highly trained, and the most effective in the nation."
Story by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA, American Forces Press Service
NEWS INFO
———
Date Taken:01.30.2006
Date Posted:07.04.2025 05:42
Story ID:539888
Location:WASHINGTON, US
* * *
Web Views:4
Downloads:0
* * *
#### PUBLIC DOMAIN 
This work, Transformed Battlefield Medical Care Saves Lives, by [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore) and [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore), identified by [
MORE LIKE THIS
————–
[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/383708/family-child-care-office-provides-safe-options-whiteman-families "Family Child Care office provides safe options for Whiteman families")
[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/254698/marines-make-difference-houston "Marines make a difference in Houston")
[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/329553/meddac-bavaria-earns-joint-commissions-gold-seal-approval "MEDDAC Bavaria earns The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval")
[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/67500/joint-theather-hospitals-intensive-care-unit-ward-afghan-base-provides-critical-care-patients "Joint theather hospital's intensive care unit, ward at Afghan base provides critical care for patients")
CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS
——————————
_No keywords found._
Add Keyword
TAGS
—-
[American Forces Press Service](http://www.dvidshub.net/tags/news/american-forces-press-service)
[Defense.gov DefenseLink Archive](http://www.dvidshub.net/tags/news/defensegov-defenselink-archive)
OPTIONS
——-
* [Register/Login to Download](http://www.dvidshub.net/login)
####
* [404-282-1450](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/539888/transformed-battlefield-medical-care-saves-lives#)
#### Web Support
* [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
#### Customer Service
* [1-888-743-4662](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/539888/transformed-battlefield-medical-care-saves-lives#)
* [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
#### [Features](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature)
#### [Units](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit)
#### [Newswire](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts)
#### [About
* [Contact Us](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/contactus)
* [Privacy & Security](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/privacy)
* [FAQs](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/faq)
* [Copyright Information](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright)
* [Accessibility Information](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/accessibility)
* [Customer Service](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/contactweb)
#### [Media Requests](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Create Request](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Media Press Kit](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest/presskit)
#### [Hometown News](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice)
* [Releases](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice/map)
* [Hometown Heroes](http://www.dvidshub.net/map)
* [Holiday Greetings Map](http://www.dvidshub.net/holiday)
#### [Stories](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Storytellers](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Media Awards](http://www.dvidshub.net/awards/guidelines)
#### [Content](http://www.dvidshub.net/search)
* [Images](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=image)
* [Video](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=video)
* [News](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=news)
* [Audio](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=audio)
* [Graphics](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=graphics)
* [Podcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)
* [Publications](http://www.dvidshub.net/publication)
* [Webcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast)
#### Links
* [Links Disclaimer](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/linksdisclaimer)
* [No FEAR Act](http://prhome.defense.gov/NoFear/)
* [Open Government](http://open.defense.gov/)
* [FOIA](http://open.defense.gov/Transparency/FOIA.aspx)
* [USA Gov](https://www.usa.gov/)
* [Inspector General](http://www.dodig.mil/)
* [Web Policy](http://dodcio.defense.gov/DoD-Web-Policy/)
* [EEO](http://www.dodig.mil/EEO/process.html)
* [Sexual Assault Prevention](http://www.sapr.mil/)
* [DVI Records Schedule](https://www.dimoc.mil/Portals/64/docs/DVI%20docs/DoD-VI-Records-Schedule.pdf?ver=2018-02-06-205026-927)
* [DVI Executive Summary](https://www.dimoc.mil/Portals/64/ExecSumm%20-%20VI%20Records%20Schedule%20-%20AUG%202019_1.pdf)
* [Section 3103](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2009-title44/USCODE-2009-title44-chap31-sec3103)
[](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)[](http://www.dvidshub.net/app)[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/539888/transformed-battlefield-medical-care-saves-lives)[](http://www.facebook.com/
[](https://www.defense.gov/)
Version: 5a266dc3ff9fb60f2179f68892ebeb0d8fc270d8_2025-10-14T09:11:41