Brianhipwell
03-11-11, 06:41 PM
In 2000 I joined the Vermont National Guard as a Medic. At that time I was an RN as the Ambulatory Care Coordinator/ Section of Vascular Surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center & Trauma Center. I had already served ten years in the Emergency Care Department at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, NH and was hired by Darthmouth-Hitchcok Medical Center in the same city. I was a Wound Care Specialist.
When I was 54 I joined the Guard as a Specialist E-4. I wanted to see if I could still 'hack it', believe me that this was a no-brainer. I qualified as a
91-Bravo.. Combat Medic. My Marine Corps SRB gave me this opportunity, I was quite proud of being called 'doc'.
Due to my Marine Corps stats I was always selected as 'Course Medic' for MOS Qual and Mountain Warfare Qual at the MOUNTAIN WARFARE SCHOOL at Jericho, Vermont. There were a few Marines that were regular VTNAG that I associated with.
In all, my expertise at wound care was noted by the cadre' and I was awarded several Army Commendations. I was the 'old man' in the school and pretty much had free reign of the medical staff.
There was a particular situation that had occurred in the field with a soldier that was suffering from a dislocated L-4, L-5 disc herniation. I reported this to one of the instructors who told me to "get him online". I refused the order and had him transferred, via ambulance, to the nearest hospital where he was diagnosed with a hertniated disc.
My action (DISREGARDING A LAWFUL ORDER) was dismissed and I was lauded for my medical decision. In the brief it was stated that 'oft a Medical Decision superceeds an Officers Order'.
When I was 54 I joined the Guard as a Specialist E-4. I wanted to see if I could still 'hack it', believe me that this was a no-brainer. I qualified as a
91-Bravo.. Combat Medic. My Marine Corps SRB gave me this opportunity, I was quite proud of being called 'doc'.
Due to my Marine Corps stats I was always selected as 'Course Medic' for MOS Qual and Mountain Warfare Qual at the MOUNTAIN WARFARE SCHOOL at Jericho, Vermont. There were a few Marines that were regular VTNAG that I associated with.
In all, my expertise at wound care was noted by the cadre' and I was awarded several Army Commendations. I was the 'old man' in the school and pretty much had free reign of the medical staff.
There was a particular situation that had occurred in the field with a soldier that was suffering from a dislocated L-4, L-5 disc herniation. I reported this to one of the instructors who told me to "get him online". I refused the order and had him transferred, via ambulance, to the nearest hospital where he was diagnosed with a hertniated disc.
My action (DISREGARDING A LAWFUL ORDER) was dismissed and I was lauded for my medical decision. In the brief it was stated that 'oft a Medical Decision superceeds an Officers Order'.