title: Combat internist: the internal medicine experience in a combat hospital in Afghanistan.
abstract: Military internists and internal medicine subspecialists are physicians who generally work in traditional internal medicine settings. However, when deployed to combat settings, they must prepare and adapt their skills for a wide spectrum of complex, polytrauma, and multinational patients. There are limitations in personnel, equipment, and technical resources that make the circumstances complex and demanding. This article highlights some of the unique roles, challenges, and experiences of four military internists at the NATO Role 3, a deployed combat hospital in Afghanistan.
authors.affiliation: Operational Infectious Diseases Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106.
authors.forename: Rachel U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 403 N Seventh Street, Eglin Air Force Base, FL 32542.
authors.forename: Joyce P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fiedler
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D017732:Air Ambulances; D003422:Critical Care; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education; D008889:Military Personnel; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010819:Physician's Role; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce