MC4 Handheld Used During Treatment of a Sniper Victim - MAJ John Rumbaugh, Battalion Surgeon, 36th Infantry Division

While deployed to Hit, Iraq, the 36th Infantry Division used MC4 handhelds and laptops to document the care given to all of the patients that came into our aid station. We called our aid station the "Shine on the Crazy Diamond Aid Station" and our motto was "No diamond stops shining in our aid station." We understood the importance of the PDAs and we gave training sessions to document patient care on a daily basis.

One day, the system was used to document an injury for a Soldier in our unit – he was shot in the head by a sniper. Upon learning of the injury, I ran into the aid station to get additional medical personnel to come out and help the Soldier.

Providers ran to the Soldier's location and began treatment. The injury, vital information and the treatments performed were also being documented into the MC4 handheld. The Soldier was moved into the aid station where treatment continued.

We evacuated the injured Soldier to a level II medical treatment facility (MTF) with Navy providers and then he went on to a level III MTF to be treated by an Air Force neurosurgeon. From that location, he was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for additional medical attention. I was able to track the Soldier's treatments through the various levels of care since his information was entered into the MC4 system.

I think it is extraordinary that a Soldier was shot in the head, and within 24 hours, he was operated on by a neurosurgeon and then transported to Germany to be with his family.
We thought the system was a success during our deployment.