Bus Delivers ‘Medical Care on Wheels'

Maj. Dan Barnes, a surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (far left), looks on as an Iraqi physician treats a man with chest pains inside a CAROLE bus at a village 30 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. Carden

Bus Delivers ‘Medical Care on Wheels'

By U.S. Army Spc. Michael J. Carden / 3 rd Brigade Combat Team

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — During the past 11 months, coalition forces have spent thousands of dollars improving healthcare services to the people of Iraq.

With funding from the Coalition Provisional Authority and several Commander's Emergency Relief Programs, newly renovated and supplied medical facilities all across the country are available for the Iraqi people.

However, because many of the Iraqis lack transportation from their rural villages and towns, they are not able to reap these benefits. A minor diagnosis such as a common cold or muscular pains may go uncared for and possibly develop into a much more serious illness. This may happen simply because the people in these areas have no way to get to a clinic.

To alleviate this problem, paratroopers from the 82 nd Airborne Division's 3 rd Brigade Combat Team developed an idea to bring the clinic to the people.

According to Maj. Dan Barnes, surgeon, 3 rd Battalion, 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the original concept was to have Army medical teams visit rural areas with medical supplies to treat patients. Because of apprehension that the Iraqi people may become dependant on coalition forces, that plan was discouraged.

“We're here to help (the Iraqis), but we want them to learn to become more self-sufficient,” Barnes said. “That's why we came up with the idea for the CAROLE bus.”

The idea for the Clinic Ambulatory Rural Ob/Gyn Lab Equipped bus was introduced to the 82 nd Airborne Division's command and several Iraqi physicians by Barnes and Spc. Paul Crowley from the Wisconsin-based 432 nd Civil Affairs Battalion. They explained that the bus will allow the local Iraqi healthcare providers, not coalition troops, to accommodate the medical needs of the people who do not have access to a clinic.

“The Iraqi physicians thought the bus is exactly what we needed,” Barnes said.

Once the project was approved, the unit purchased, modified and supplied the first of 12 buses. The $50,000 bus is equipped with the same amount of supplies and modifications as a secondary pharmacy. It also has the capability to treat obstetrical and minor trauma patients as well as perform lab work.

“(The CAROLE bus) is very nice and useful for the Iraqi people,” said one Iraqi physician. “It's helpful because many of them live too far away and don't have the transportation to attend clinics.”

“Basically, we're bringing the clinic to them,” Barnes said.

On Jan. 29, the bus visited a rural area on the Euphrates River, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. There, paratroopers from Company C, 3 rd Battalion, 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 3 rd Brigade Combat Team's information operations team helped to spread the word about the bus.

“Not many people here have transportation to receive medical attention,” said Heribeto Hurtado, an information operations team member. “So, it was important for us make them aware of the assistance and care the CAROLE bus will provide.”

The Iraqi physicians treated over 70 people during the bus' initial operation. Most of the patients treated were diagnosed with chronic muscle and skeletal pains and upper respiratory infections. Thanks to the teamwork of the Iraqi physicians and the combat medics, these people's illnesses were properly treated.

“Iraq has plenty of well-trained doctors,” Barnes said. “For the people, it's just a matter of access to their (physicians') care. With the CAROLE buses, more people will have the opportunity to be treated and take care of.”

According to Maj. Dan Barnes, surgeon, 3 rd Battalion, 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the original concept was to have Army medical teams visit rural areas with medical supplies to treat patients. “We're here to help (the Iraqis), but we want them to learn to become more self-sufficient,” Barnes said. “That's why we came up with the idea for the CAROLE bus.”

On Jan. 29, the bus visited a rural area on the Euphrates River.... paratroopers from Company C, 3 rd Battalion, 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 3 rd Brigade Combat Team's information operations team helped to spread the word about the bus.

“Not many people here have transportation to receive medical attention,” said Heribeto Hurtado..

The Iraqi physicians treated over 70 people during the bus' initial operation.

“Iraq has plenty of well-trained doctors,” Barnes said. “...With the CAROLE buses, more people will have the opportunity to be treated...”

Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1...(and as of Oct. 9, far more progress has been made since)..all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.

Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1...pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.

Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1...the Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccination doses to Iraq’s children.

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Since President Bush declared an end to major combat ops on May 1...
...US troops have risked their own lives, and helped save untold numbers. Y
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