In the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad AB, Iraq, pharmacy technicians and the radiology specialists are very busy dealing with trauma medicine. Journalist SrA. Candace Romano reports that pharmacists make initial assessments, monitor morphine, fill prescriptions, mix intravenous fluids, and make rounds in the intensive care units and wards. One critical care pharmacist said the pharmacy filled 23,706 prescriptions in January. Journalist SSgt. Carlos Diaz writes that the radiology staff treated 38 patients in 16 hours on Presidents Day; they perform 1,600 CT scans a month, averaging 53 per day. They use two state-of-the-art scanners that provide 16 image planes for a faster CT scan, and time is critical with the near constant flow of patients.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.