title: Stateside care of marines and sailors injured in Iraq at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
abstract: This article has been written by four staff members from the Critical Care Department at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. They are part of a large and extremely sophisticated medical response team who cares for the injured when they return to the United States. This article covers the interdisciplinary teamwork that is vital to the care of catastrophic war injuries and shows how detailed treatment plans are formulated for each casualty. It describes the unique and profound emotional responses of the staff members who are instrumental in the recuperation of the service member. It also tells of the joy of recovery from horrific injuries, and the intense dedication of staff members to the military wounded.
authors.affiliation: National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600, USA. Loretta.Aiken@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Loretta J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bibeau
authors.forename: Barbie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cilento
authors.forename: Eddie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004644:Emotions; D006768:Hospitals, Federal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008396:Maryland; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients