| Corps of Engineers oversee $21 million in repairs, improvements at Ibn Sina Hospital |
| By Norris Jones Gulf Region Central District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
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| BAGHDAD, June 4, 2007 — It’s the U.S. military’s busiest trauma center in the world. Ibn Sina Hospital, built in 1964 and located in Baghdad’s International Zone, has been operated by the U.S. Army since October 2003. It has handled more than 13,000 emergency room visits, air evacuated more than 10,000 patients, taken more than 60,000 X-rays, accomplished 14,500 surgical hours, and given more than 33,000 units of blood.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is overseeing a $21.3 million operations and maintenance contract that includes funds to repair and improve the 43-year-old structure. “Currently we’re renovating its laboratory area with new floors, counters and cabinets,” says Dennis Graham, the USACE project engineer. “To date over 165,000 lab tests have been conducted there and these improvements will enhance the turn-around time.” |
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| He also noted renovations are continuing on the wards and living units as the engineers strive to improve the quality of life for the wounded soldiers and staff. “We constantly are trying to make things better,” Graham said. The hospital is currently manned by the 28th Combat Support Hospital from Ft. Bragg, N.C. “When a fallen soldier comes through the hospital doors, they have a 96 percent chance of survival,” Graham is proud to point out. The Army obviously has some of the best doctors and nurses anywhere, he continued. “This facility truly is a ‘House of Angels.’” Graham has helped oversee a variety of renovations there since first reporting to Iraq in March 2005. Those projects include building an outpatient clinic, a dental clinic, blood bank, “return to duty” barracks, a chapel, new central suction system, new oxygen storage building, and CT scanner placement. “It’s been an honor to be part of this effort,” he concluded. |
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FR WAR NEWS!