Wounds that strike beneath the skin

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Most people can see when they are wounded. Some of the tell-tale signs are the dark-blue and black color of a bruise, the painful irritation from a wounded area and even blood.

While not everyone is a doctor, these signs are just some of the obvious indicators of an injury. When it comes to injuries or conditions more than skin-deep, a doctor may refer a patient to radiology for an x-ray.

"Our workload varies from day-to-day," said Staff Sgt. Chanell Jenkins, 509th Medical Operations Squadron radiology technologist. "Our X-rays are on a walk-in basis, dependent on what the patient's doctor feels is in need of being radiographed and our Mammograms are scheduled exams. When we aren't taking x-rays, we are in the back cleaning, training and doing paperwork."

Once an x-ray is taken, the radiology technician sends the x-ray off-base to be read by a licensed radiologist who then returns the x-rays along with their findings.

"We don't have our own radiologist on-base," Sergeant Jenkins said. "We have an agreement with the radiologists at Langley AFB, Va. to send our x-rays digitally to them for readings and they have a turnaround time of 24 hours."

In addition to taking x-rays of bones and soft tissue, the radiology department can also detect other internal injuries and medical conditions including cancer cells.

"We have a separate General Electric Senograph machine we use to image male and female patients for annual breast cancer screenings, which is a hot topic in itself," said Dawn Richmond, 509th Medical Operations Squadron radiology technologist and mammogram technologist. "Once the mammograms are completed, we take them to Western Mo. Medical Center to be read by a licensed radiologist as they are not digital."

Once returned to the radiology department, the x-rays and findings are entered into the Composite Health Care system database and healthcare provider is notified so he may provide the proper medical care to his patient.

"So many things can happen under the skin that you wouldn't think about," Sergeant Jenkins said. "It's very rewarding to know that the x-rays we take can help ease someone's pain and possibly save their life."