Keesler medics bring health care to Panama Published Sept. 9, 2008 By 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Three 81st Medical Group physicians took part in a medical readiness training exercise to Panama earlier this summer. Dermatologist Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steven Ritter, family physician Capt. (Dr.) Bryan Farford and pediatrician Capt. (Dr.) Kermit Helo, all assigned to the 81st Medical Operations Squadron, augmented the lead team from the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. They participated in the two-week exercise designed to hone the skills of medical personnel while providing free health care in remote locations. The range of medical specialties of the Air Force medics involved in this MEDRETE included dentists, optometrists, general physicians, a pediatrician and a dermatologist. In addition to the Keesler and Maxwell medics, the team included personnel from Little Rock AFB, Ark., Columbus AFB, Miss., the Pentagon, Eglin AFB, Fla., and Randolph AFB, Texas. The medical team saw more than 8,300 patients during their time in-country. This included providing adult medical services to more than 2,700 people, gynecological treatment to more than 215 patients, optometry care to almost 2,000 people, dental treatment to more than 1,250 patients, pediatric service to more than 1,000 children and dermatology care to 1,115 patients. "It was a good MEDRETE, very well planned and executed," Colonel Ritter commented. "We were very busy. I have been to MEDRETEs in Bolivia and El Salvador. This was the best yet. I'm looking forward to more." This was Captain Farford's first MEDRETE experience. "I had wanted to do this for a while, but I did not know how to get selected," the captain said. "One day I got a call and it just fell into my lap. It was rewarding to me to be able to take part in such a wonderful experience. I feel that this was a great opportunity to provide medical care for people that do not have true access to care." The Panama MEDRETE was one of about 70 sponsored each year by U.S. Southern Command. While Panama has a national health care system, in many remote locations it is cost prohibitive for patients to travel to a doctor on a regular basis. The intent of this mission was to bring medical care to a location accessible by the patients and enable those requiring routine care to simultaneously be entered into the government health-care system. Steve Pivnick, 81st Medical Group Public Affairs, and Capt. Ben Sakrisson, Air University Public Affairs, contributed to this report.