Chinar Softech-IT (http://www.chinarsoftech.co.in/medigate.html)
Complete Hospital Management System
Courtesy :- (http://www.chinarsoftech.co.in/medigate.html)
MediGate is designed for multi specialty hospitals, to cover a wide range of hospital administration and management processes. It is an integrated end–to-end Hospital Management System that provides relevant information across the hospital to support effective decision making for patient care, hospital administration and critical financial accounting, in a seamless flow.
Registration
The Registration module is an integrated patient management system, which captures complete and relevant patient information.
Patient Registration Details
Inpatient and Outpatient Registration
Appointment Scheduling (Patient / Doctor wise)
Doctor’s Schedule Summary
Doctors Daily Schedule List
Patient Visit History
Patient Visit Slip
Billing
The Patient Billing module handles all types of billing for long-term care. This module facilitates cashier and billing operations for different categories of patients like Outpatient, Inpatient and Referral. It provides automatic posting of charges related to different services like bed charges, lab tests conducted, medicines issued, consultant’s fee, food, beverage and telephone charges etc. The Billing Screens is used for In-patient and Outpatient Billing and Invoicing. Further more the charges for various services rendered can be recorded through service module and this can be used for billing purposes.
Payment Modes / Details
Patient Billing Details
Automatic Room and Medicine Charges
Auto-generated Codes and Billing Criteria
Outpatient Management
The Outpatient module serves as an entry point to schedule an appointment with the Hospital Resident Doctor or Consultant Doctor for Medical Consultations and diagnosis. This module supports doctors to take better and timely consultation decisions by providing instant access to comprehensive patient information. External Doctors visit to in patients can be defined as “Doctor Category”. Some patients may avail only the hospital facilities like Lab, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Physiotherapy and so on.
Patient’s Appointments
Daily / Weekly Schedule Summary
Appointment Scheduling / Rescheduling Facility
Outpatient Medical Observation Details
Investigation / Treatment History
Inpatient Management
The inpatient module is designed to take care of all the activities and functions pertaining to Inpatient Management. This module automates the day-to-day administrative actives and provides instant access to other modules, which leads to a better patient care. It provides comprehensive data pertaining to Admission of Patients & Ward Management: Availability of beds, Collection of advance and so on. The Inpatient module also deals with Ward Management: Shifting from one ward to the other, Bed availability, nursing notes, charge slip and so on.
Admission Request
IP Medical Observation
Discharge Notification Summary
Expected Date and Time of Discharge
Billing
Pharmacy
Pharmacy module deals with the automation of general workflow and administration management process of a pharmacy. This module deals with the activities such as:
Enquiry
Purchase Order
Supplier information
Maintenance of Medicine inventory
Goods receipt
Stock in Hand reports
Service
The service module deals with all the services available in the hospital and the charges for these services are stored through this module. There are various services that are available in the hospital can be seen in
SERVICE MASTER: This master gives the details about package details, Group detail
ROOM TYPE MASTER: This gives the details about Room Type (Ex: Private, Semi-private, Deluxe, ICU, Suite etc) and their charges.
I Am Interested In Going To School For Ultrasound. Should I Go For An Associates Or A Bachelors?
I currently have a an associate degree in business management and computer software, a certificate of diversity management, and phlebotomy. I am not having any luck in finding employment. I am thinking of going to school for ultrasound. What can you do with a bachelors that you can not do with an associates? Do you think there will be a difference in pay, on how long I go to school. Oh, does the sonographer read the ultrasound, or does the Dr.?
Healing Arts Careers Today
Find Healing Arts Careers in the United States and Canada. If natural and alternative healthcare interest you, and you have an innate desire to help people, then finding the appropriate education to attain one of several healing arts careers is in order. Healing arts careers involve professional fields in massage therapy, Chinese medicine, energy healing, Reiki, herbal medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, homeopathy and many others.
While some healing arts careers necessitate weeks or months of educational training, others can take up to seven or more years of studies and clinical preparation. For example, if healing arts careers in natural medicine are desirable, then prospective students should review prerequisites for enrollment in naturopathic, chiropractic and acupuncture schools. These particular healing arts careers often encompass comprehensive academic studies in natural healthcare modalities involving anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, radiology, chemistry, biology, naturopathic medicine treatments (massage therapy, herbal medicine, etc.), Chinese herbal medicine, Tuina (Chinese medical massage), moxibustion, chiropractic manipulation techniques, needling techniques, and other relative subject matter.
If you find healing arts careers in energy medicine attractive, then you will find that many energy healing programs entail course-intensive, practical training in a variety of mind-body-spirit therapies including studies in touch therapy, energy balancing (chakra balancing), Reiki, crystal therapy, color therapy, visualization, and other energy healing techniques. Healing arts careers such as these often require some degree of education and training; with most programs subdivided into levels of mastery.
Healing arts careers in massage therapy can be quite rewarding as well. Today, massage therapy training can be completed not only at specialized massage therapy institutions, but also at vocational schools and technical colleges. Though each state has its own set of regulations and guidelines, most massage therapy courses are a minimum of 300 class hours; but can take up to two years (depending on whether the specific course is degreed or non-degreed) to complete. Students desiring healing arts careers in massage therapy will discover diverse bodywork modalities; including acupressure, Indian head massage, chair massage, deep tissue massage, Lomi Lomi, prenatal massage, sports massage, Swedish massage and multiple others. Healing arts careers in massage therapy are promising as the demand for this occupation is on the rise; and according the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession is expected to increase over the next decade.
Other healing arts careers, such as herbalists, homeopaths and iridologists often require varying degrees of education and training. While some herbalist programs are introductory in nature, others may be quite intensive; requiring many months of education and training. Homeopathic studies vary as well; as do iridology courses.
In general, healing arts careers provide a promising outlook to students, who have acquired necessary academics and practical training in one or more of the abovementioned professions. Candidates seeking healing arts careers should always review course prerequisites, curriculum, school accreditation, and tuition costs prior to enrolling in any one of numerous healing arts schools.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in attaining one or more healing arts careers, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Healing Arts Careers Today
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd – Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com – Educational Resources for Healing Arts Careers, Alternative Medicine Schools, and other Natural Health Schools.
Physician Jobs Nationwide – Guide From Physician Depot
Because health is the most valued treasure of a human being, modern medicine has developed different specialties for the treatment of specific diseases or the appropriate guidance for a healthy lifestyle.
While residents continue too increase their awareness of the necessity to cover the diverse areas of the medical knowledge, the problem arises for the gradating resident who faces the daunting task of locating and evaluating the exact professional environment for their needs along with finishing their residency program at the same time.
At Physician Depot, we are able to help minimize this effort by giving the physician an online tool that enables them to quickly sort through the miriad of physician jobs available to them and get them in contact with the hiring authority. Physician Depot offers offers free resources like state medical licensing information and medical malpractice insurance providers along with many other useful resources to assist in the efforts of both employers and physicians.
Physician Depot also offers an email job alert system to all the registered physicians to receive future positions matching their search criteria. When an employer/recruiter posts a position that matches a search criteria the physician will be e-mail the details for that position. Physician Depot adds hundreds of new physician jobs each month and this service offers a convenient way to keep up to date.
Our job search includes the possibility to define employee type among Multi Specialty Groups, Single Specialty Groups, Employed, Solo, Administrative or Academic. Also included is the ability to select among multiple or single states, or to choose the job duration from open, full time, part time or Locum Tenens.
If you are a physician, join us for free and gain access too literally thousands of job opportunities nationwide which cover over 100 different medical specialties.
As an introductory offer for employers and recruiters looking for physicians, currently purchasing a monthly membership entitles you to receive an extra month of free curriculum vitae searching and physician job posting.
Furthermore, an employer can recruit qualified physicians through our web site by browsing over four thousand Curriculum Vitae’s and posting an unlimited number of positions for a low monthly price that pays for itself by getting powerful results.
Some of these specialties include Addictionology, Allergy and Immunology, Colon Rectal Surgery, Chemical Pathology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Hematology, Hospitalist, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Nephrology, Neurology, Nuclear Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Pathology, Pain Management, Plastic Surgery, Public Health, Sports Medicine, and many more specialties.
We have gathered the main areas of modern medicine into comprehensible categories, including Interventional Cardiology, Radiology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Hospitalists, and Family Medicine.
James Lauber is CEO of Physician Depot Find various job opportunity, search for physician jobs and physician marketplace.
Magnet Technology and Health Care
Most people have a basic understanding of what a magnet is, but don’t really contemplate the many ways in which magnets can be used. Did you know that magnets play important roles in our everyday lives? Without magnet technology, our cell phones, computers, and even many automobiles would cease to function. Magnet technology has come a long way in the last few decades, but some of the most amazing advances have occurred in the field of health care.
X-ray technology has been around for over 100 years. Many of us are familiar with the process of having x-rays taken, and we have all seen doctors look at x-ray images. In 1977, through the use of magnets, a new medical technology was developed as an alternative to (or an advanced version of) the x-ray. The technology was first called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, but later became more commonly called Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI. MRI technology utilizes a powerful magnetic field to visualize the structure and functions in the human body. Unlike an x-ray, which can only depict a two dimensional image, MRI evaluates the body three dimensionally, allowing more careful evaluation and study of the body. These systems are used a great deal in the field of oncology or diagnosis of cancer.
Though MRI technology is relatively new, only 30 years old, it has already become a very important a diagnostic tool. There are now mobile MRI units carried in specialized semi trailer trucks that travel to service rural areas. For those rural hospitals that cannot afford their own MRI unit, they can schedule the mobile MRI semi truck to visit on a somewhat regular basis so that doctors in the area can schedule patients to have an MRI as needed. The magnetic field created by an MRI machine is so strong that lead lined walls are used in the semi trailer to prevent the magnets from pulling automobiles off the road and into the side of the vehicle.
In some other exploratory areas of medicine, magnets are now being used for pain reduction and healing. Some doctors and medical researchers believe magnet therapy is a better alternative than drugs or surgery, because there are no potentially harmful side effects or long recovery time. Whether or not magnet therapy really works is a hotly debated topic. Many testimonials have been recorded from satisfied patients. Is the relief real or only in the minds of the patients? Time will tell, as current research continues to evaluate the ability of magnet technology to reduce pain and enhance the natural healing process of the body.
Interestingly enough, magnets have been used in health care for hundreds of centuries. The old recorded history of magnets being used for medicinal purposes is traced back to Africa, where a magnetite mine has been discovered. The mine, which is believed to be over 100,000 years old, was a major source of magnetite for medicinal purposes. The magnetite was ground up and used in topical ointments, potions, and foods for health purposes.
In Eastern medicine, magnets have been used since 600 B.C. to reduce pain, much in the same way as acupuncture. Magnets were placed on specific points of the body called meridian channels, so as to improve blood flow and reduce pain. From a holistic medicine standpoint, magnets are a good alternative to traditional Western medicines because they provide a non-invasive treatment option. Many Asian cultures believe that magnets can be used to promote and enhance overall well-being and health.
Modern medicine has come a long way in its use of magnet technology, and new discoveries continue to be made about what magnets can do for us. There is no question that the future will continue to bring new advancements in the medicinal uses of magnet technology.
Home Products ‘n’ More offers a variety of magnets for home, school, and commercial use. Visit us for free shipping on a selection of rare earth magnets, magnetic sweepers, and telescopic magnetic pickup tools.
Careers In Medicine Part-2
- Study Routes:
- An entrance exam after science in 10+2 is necessary to get admission in one of the medical colleges listed below. Followed by a four and a half year MBBS program which makes you a general practitioner. Next is a one-year internship.
- For an MD or an MS i.e. specialization there is another 2-year program, which can be taken up only after qualifying an exam. More than 70% of all MBBS graduates try for postgraduate qualifications, rather than going in for a job or practice. Choice can be any one of the large number of subjects studied during MBBS course– Surgery, Medicine, Microbiology, Dermatology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Otolaryngology, Biochemistry, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Pathology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Physiology, Anatomy and Preventive Medicine.
- Finally there is super-specialisation as Neurosurgeon, Paediatric surgeon, Cardiologist, Nephrologist, Gastroenterologist, Cardiothoracic surgeon, Genito-urinary surgeon, and Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon.
- India- Best Places to Study (Rankings – May 2007):
- AIIMS, New Delhi
- CMC, Vellore
- AFMC, Oune
- JIPMER, Pondicherry
- Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai
- Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi
- King Georges Medical University, Lucknow
- Kastirba Medical College, Manipal
- St. Johns, Bangalore
- Grants Medical College, Mumbai
- LMT Medical College, Sion, Mumbai
- Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
- BJ Medical College, Pune
- Bangalore Medical College, Pune
- Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad
- Calcutta Medical College, Calcutta
- Stanley Medical College, Chennai
- Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
- Government Medical College, Mysore
- Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad
- University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi
- BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum
Other places include –
COLLEGE
PHONE
DEGREE
SEATS
Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam 530002
63413, 61157
MBBS
150
Deccan College Of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad
P.O. Kanchan Bag, Hyderabad 500258
239225, 239547
239235
MBBS
150
Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500195
45692, 42936
MBBS
200
Guahati Medical College, Guwahati, Guwahati 781032
561323,562245
MBBS
156
Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga, Laher Sarai 846003, Darbhanga
33228, 33190
MBBS
90
Patna Medical College, Patna, Patna 800004
653343
MBBS
100
Mgm Medical College, Jamshedpur 831012
23011
MBBS
50
Rajendra Medical College, Ranchi, P.O. Bariatau, Ranchi 834009
301533
MBBS
90
Government Med. College, Chandigarh
690338, 6904412
MBBS
50
Lady Hardinge Med. College, Bhagat Singh Marg, N. Delhi 110001
3343984, 3363728
MBBS / BDS
130 / NIL
Maulana Azad Med. College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, N. Delhi 110002
3239271/201
MBBS / BDS
180 / 20
3. University College Of Med. Sciences, 3. Shahdara, Delhi 110032
2282106
MBBS / BDS
100 / NIL
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, N.Delhi 110029
661123, 6864851
FAX : 6862663
MBBS
50
Goa Medical College, Panaji, Panaji 403001
225727, 224441
226288
MBBS
70
Goverment Medical College, Bhavnagar, Sir T. Hospital Campus, Dr. H. Vaidya Road, Kalanala, Bhavnagar 364002
422011, 430808
MBBS
50
Maharaja Agrasen Inst. Of Medical Research & Education, Agroha
Agroha 125047, Haryana
45176, 45193
FAX : 3268236
MBBS
35
Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Shimla 172001
77820
MBBS
100
Government Medical College, Srinagar, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu 180001
46824, 43996
MBBS
100
Medical College, Kottayam, Gandhinagar, P.O. Kottayam 686008
7284, 7279
MBBS
100
Medical College, Mulankunnathukavu, Mulankunnathukavu, Thrissur 680581
7355
MBBS
100
Medical College, Thiruvanathapura, Thiruvananthapuram 695011
71205
MBBS
200
T.D. Med. College, Alappuzha 688005
8566111, 856611
MBBS
100
Medical College, Kozhikode 673008
356531
FAX: 355331
MBBS
200
Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore, Kadugondanahalli Bangalore 560045
5476498, 5471784
MBBS
98
Kempegowda Inst. Of Med. Sciences, Bangalore, K.R. Road, Visveswarapuram, Bangalore 560004
603560, 628916
FAX : 6613225
MBBS
98
Manipal Academy Of Higher Education, Manipal, Ground Floor, University Bldg., Madhav Nagar, Manipal 576119
71201 Ext. 2499
Fax : 70062
MBBS/ BDS/ B.Sc-Nursing
Gajaraja Med. College, Gwalior 474009
321400, 323451
MBBS
140
Gandhi Med. College, Bhopal 462001
540590
MBBS
140
Government Med. College, Jabalpur 482003
422851
MBBS
140
Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 410040
673290/6030
MBBS
105
Seth G.S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai 4000012
4136051
FAX : 4143435
MBBS
186
S.B.J. Medical College, Nerul, New Bombay
4922791
MBBS
100
Regional Institute Of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal 795004
222234, 310267
FAX : 310625
MBBS
85
Mkcg Medical College, Berhampur 760004
200756, 203609
FAX : 200720
MBBS
107
SCB Medical College, Cuttack 753007
23255
MBBS
107
VSS Medical College, Burla 768017, Sambalpur
MBBS
10
MKCG Medical College, Berhampur 760004
200756, 203609
FAX : 200720
MBBS
107
Pondicherry University, Jawaharlal Inst. Of Pg Medical Education & Research, Dhanvantry Nagar, Pondicherry 605006
36380-89
FAX: 38067
MBBS
75
Govt. Medical College, Amritsar 143001
220618
MBBS
150
S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur 302004
49020, 49096
MBBS
150
Christian Medical College, P.O.Thorapadi, Vellore 632002
22603
FAX : 222788
MBBS
60
Coimbatore Medical College, Coimbatore 641014
574375
MBBS
110
Madras Medical College, Park Town, Chennai 600003
300001
MBBS
175
Govt. Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai 600010
8255331
MBBS
110
Motilal Nehru Medical College, Lowther Road, Allahabad 211001
601983
MBBS
102
Medical College, Calcutta, 88, College Street, Calcutta 700073
2414901,2414920
MBBS
155
North Bengal Medical College
P.O. Susruthanagar, Siliguri, Darjeeling 734432
450285
MBBS
50
And also several other regional medical colleges.
- Under the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Deemed University) the following colleges:
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and College of Dental Surgery
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and College of Dental Surgery.
These institutions conduct separate entrance test on all India basis.
- Under the Bhartiya Vidyapeeth (Deemed University) Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Pune – the following colleges:
- Medical College and Dental College, Katraj, Dhanakwadi – Pune 411 043 ,
- Medical College, Erandwane, Pune. All India common entrance test is held at several centres for MBBS, BDS, BAMS and BHMS degrees.
Overseas:
In the United Kingdom –
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- London Medical College – Phone: 011 [44] 845 050 520 766
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine
- St. Christopher’s College of Medicine
- St. George’s Hospital Medical School
- United Medical and Dental School of Guys and St Thomas Hospitals
- University of Birmingham
- University of Hull – School of Health
- University of Southampton
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
- University of Wales College of Medicine (UWCM)
In USA – (as per latest rankings)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- University of Pennsylvania
- Washington University in St. Louis
- University of California–San Francisco
- University of Washington
- Stanford University (CA)
- Duke University (NC)
- Yale University (CT)
- Baylor College of Medicine (TX)
- Columbia U. College of Physicians and Surgeons (NY)
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- University of California–Los Angeles (Geffen)
- University of California–San Diego
- Cornell University (Weill) (NY)
- University of Chicago (Pritzker)
- University of Pittsburgh
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
- U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center–Dallas
- University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- Northwestern University (Feinberg) (IL)
- Emory University (GA)
- Mayo Medical School (MN)
- University of Colorado–Denver and Health Sciences Center
- University of Virginia
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine (NY)
- University of Alabama–Birmingham
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- University of Iowa (Carver)
- Ohio State University
- Dartmouth Medical School (NH)
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Boston University
- Brown University (RI)
- New York University
- University of Rochester (NY)
- University of Southern California (Keck)
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- Yeshiva University (Einstein) (NY)
- University of California–Irvine
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Maryland
- Georgetown University (DC)
- Indiana University–Indianapolis
- Wake Forest University (NC)
- Tufts University (MA)
- University of Florida
- University of California–Davis
- University of Massachusetts–Worcester
University of Utah
Above article written is by Shiksha.com. Shiksha is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha has wide information over, medical courses , courses & other colleges in India . Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.
Potential Mesothelioma Treatment Uncovered
Nearly 20 to 30 years ago, the drug’s effects were known as killing cancerous cells, however, at that time it was too powerful to test on cancer patients. At that time, however, the anti-cancer effect was considered too risky to continue studying because of the extremely high doses that were needed to be given to a cancer patient. Researchers put the study on hold, according to news reports, until recently when scientists at a Nashville, Tenn., clinic started providing the drug to pleural mesothelioma patients.
Details of Lovastatin and its Cancer-Killing Potential
Researchers have given little notice to Lovastatin as a treatment for mesothelioma cancer even though a stage-four melanoma patient had received treatments of Lovastatin in 2000 and currently remains cancer-free, nearly nine years later. Medical professionals aren’t sure that Lovastatin can do much for pleural mesothelioma patients as it did for the melanoma patient, but it is being heavily researched.
The drug, according to an article in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, described Lovastatin’s effects as apoptosis. Apoptosis is also described as ?ogrammed cell death, according to the Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group. Apoptosis occurs when a stimuli is introduced to a variety of cells in which the cells begin to commit ?ll suicide?The study looked at the ?rophologic changes, histologic evidence of nuclear condensation and degeneration, and flow-cytometric analysis of DNA content?f the mesothelioma cancer cells treated with Lovastatin and determined it a potentially sufficient treatment for mesothelioma.
What is Lovastatin?
Lovastatin is part of a group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The drugs decrease the production of bad cholesterol within the body. It is often prescribed to patients as an oral pill that is taken in low-doses — once every four weeks. Lovastatin does have reported side effects, which have not been fully studied on mesothelioma patients, however, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) the side effects include:
* hives, rashes and itching
* loss of appetite
* flu-like symptoms
* nausea as well as pain in upper right part of stomach
* extreme tiredness
* yellowing of skin and eyes
* lack of energy
* difficulty breathing and swallowing
* swelling of face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and
* lower legs/calf muscles
* muscle pain, tenderness or weakness
* fever
* unusual bleeding or bruising
* hoarseness
* constipation
What to do If Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer has become increasingly prevalent in the United States and around the world. Individuals who were exposed to a mineral known as vermiculite containing deadly asbestos may have had the condition for 20 or more years without any signs of the cancer within their bodies.
Although asbestos was banned once mesothelioma became linked to asbestos exposure, the damage had already occurred. Unfortunately, asbestos is still used in many industries today and was so prevalent from the 1920s to the 1980s that millions of homes are contaminated with asbestos as well as hospitals, elementary schools and offices.
Those who have suffered from mesothelioma cancer or feel they may have been a victim of asbestos exposure have the ability to consult a legal professional for a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. Developing a mesothelioma lawsuit might assist a victim in paying for medical bills if they receive a monetary return on their damages incurred. Consulting a mesothelioma attorney is often a free legal service and may add peace of mind for mesothelioma victims, their families and friends.
To better understand what a mesothelioma diagnosis means, visit http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/. LegalView also offers a variety of other information portals such as that of the Ketek side effects or learning how to develop a truck accident lawsuit after an incident has occurred.
July 4th in Hell Without the Ice Cream
Part 5 in a Series on the USS LIBERTY: “It was God that kept us afloat”
[Texas, December 20, 2007] On that other day in infamy: June 8, 1967, Lieutenant Richard Kiepfer, was the lone medical doctor on board the spy ship, the USS LIBERTY, who “with complete disregard for his own personal safety, exposed himself to overwhelmingly accurate rocket and machine gun fire…administered first aid…treated [171 wounded] men for pain, shock…[and]conducted a major surgical operation”[1]
Six weeks after boarding the LIBERTY and fifteen minutes into the attack, while operating on a sailor to control his bleeding, Dr. Kiepfer received eleven shrapnel wounds into his abdomen, and shortly thereafter, a gun shot to his leg, burns and a broken knee cap. He remained on his feet and caring for the crew for the next twenty-eight hours and their spirits ever since.
This reporter visited with 70 year old Dr. Richard F. Kiepfer, a Catholic born and bred in Brooklyn, in his Texas home where the deer ignore the corn put out by his neighbors, for Dr. Kiepfer provides prime feed in his front yard. Obese raccoons dine on a daily feast of dog food and multiple cats eat better than mine, in his back yard. Friends, who check on the doctor daily, set the food out, for Dr. Kiepfer can no longer do what he once did.
A Master Bridge player while still in his teens, Dr. Kiepfer today continues to play the cards he has been dealt in life with aplomb and grace. In 1973 he nearly died in a plane crash after parachuting atop of Georgia pecan trees that ended his surgical career and the use of his right hand and arm.
“As I laid there and looked at my arm and failed every test to move it, I knew then I would never operate again and began to think about what I could do in life to continue to be useful, and decided on nuclear medicine. The pilot landed a mile away from me, and was impaled on a forest of pine trees.”
After twenty years in nuclear medicine he retired after suffering a heart attack and since then has suffered the loss of two wives, but not his sense of humor, which borders on the ribald. My weekend visit with Dr. Kiepfer in his home adorned with icons of St. Francis occurred only a week after his discharge from a rehabilitation center. He had spent the last six months recuperating from a below the knee amputation.
In an email from retired Commander David Ed Lewis [2] who had been the officer in charge of 195 men out of the total crew of 294 on the US LIBERTY, he wrote, “I know Doc has suffered more and complained less than anyone I know. Job didn’t have much on Doc…He has always dedicated his life to others and has never asked anything in return from them.”
The book of Job is a critique about the justice of God in light of the suffering of innocent people and finding meaning and value in that pain and playing the cards one has been dealt with in life without blaming God.
Being a retired nurse, I had many questions for Dr. Kiepfer, and utmost was what was left out of the Court of Inquiry: such as how could the deck log which documents the hours during the attack be so neatly written and list all the dead and wounded in alphabetical order within the hours of noon to four PM but make no mention of the many Israeli over flights that occurred during the morning before the attack.
Dr. Kiepfer explained,” The deck log was not written during the attack. Captain McGonagle signed off on the Log and that makes it legal, but not authentic. McGonagle was concerned that he would be blamed for the LIBERTY being in troubled waters. I told him, ‘Over my dead fucking body!’”
After the hellacious and unprovoked attack by Israel, they did indeed blame the victims. “Israel did identify the ship six hours before the attack…Israel did know that the ship was American and admitted to our government that they knew the ship was American; Israel claims only that the attacking forces failed to get the word…Modern diplomacy simply does not permit one to embarrass a “friendly” nation, even when that nation is caught red-handed with its torpedo in one’s ship…McGonagle [was] tormented by the idea that he was somehow responsible for the agony his ship and crew suffered…One top level theory holds that someone in the Israeli armed forces ordered the LIBERTY sunk because he suspected that it had taken down messages showing that Israel started the fighting [during the Six Day War]…typical of Israel’s casual attitude toward the episode, an attitude which suggested from the beginning that it was really our fault for being there [in international waters] in the first place…messages from Israel directly charged that a share of the blame was McGonagle’s…the Shreveport Times suggested…that our government was involved in a cover-up…and that the attack itself may have been conducted to prevent the ship [and the United States] from detecting the pending invasion of Syria”[3] which was scheduled for June 8th but implemented on June 9, 1967.
Dr. Kiepfer informed me, “McGonagle may have misremembered or may have not reported the over a dozen Israeli over flights that morning because he may have thought he should have abandoned our mission-which was to listen in on all communications. My opinion as a civilian is that the Court of Inquiry-which was to determine if the Navy was at fault- would have inquired why he didn’t get the LIBERTY out of the area since we could see the smoke from Al Arish, in Gaza.
“I was the only Medical Corp officer to be appointed Officer of the Deck-that means I was in charge of everything on the ship when the Captain was off duty. I stood mid watch from midnight to 4 AM the night before the attack of June 8, 1967 and all was quiet. I always slept until 7:29 because breakfast ended at 7:30. Beginning at sunrise to 8 AM, the bridge reported a couple of propeller driven aircraft overhead and by noon several more. At lunch people were talking about all the Israeli over flights, but nobody was worried; they were our friends. Afterwards, as usual I went to the ward room for coffee while the Corpsmen began the start of sick call and off duty officers pursued the national sport of sunbathing on the quarter deck.
“Lieutenant George Golden and I were together when the attack began and we thought a steam line had ruptured when we heard the first explosion. We both headed off to our general quarters stations as the announcement sounded that we were under attack. I assumed it was perpetrated by the Arabs or Russians. Understand that nobody could identify Mirage fighter bombers that travel at MACH One. Imagine as I say these words to you that the jets are a mile away, now they are overhead and now they are a mile away from us. That is how fast they travel.
“Fifteen minutes into the attack, while I was operating on a sailor and trying to control his bleeding, I was hit with eleven pieces of shrapnel into my abdomen. A rocket struck above the ceiling of sick bay and the light over my head and the operating table protected me; both acted as a life saver for me, otherwise I would have gotten hit in my shoulders, side and back. I was knocked against a wall and waves of red and white pain throbbed through me.
“I knew I had to finish with the guy on the table-if I walked away, I wouldn’t have returned. All I could think about was keeping limbs attached to sailors. From the moment the attack began, I felt a greater presence within me that was physically holding me up. I thought it was the spirit of all the navy docs who had gone before me. I felt physically held up by my invisible assistants and with all that adrenalin coursing through me and some carefully titrated morphine that I self injected, I was able to do what I did.
“It was not until I finished that operation did I even examine myself. The fragments that penetrated me were so hot they cauterized my wounds. The pain was intense, but after applying surgical dressings to my wounds and putting on a life vest to control the bleeding I gave myself a shot of morphine and remained on my feet and working for the next twenty-eight hours.
“Just before the torpedo struck, I was summoned to the bridge and went through the mess decks from sick bay, where a number of wounded sailors were. Captain McGonagle was the only man still functioning there, the lookouts were dead, the helmsman-the guy at the steering wheel was dead and I saw the blown apart remains of our Navigator, Mr. Toth, two decks below me. All I could do was administer morphine to the still living and get them onto stretchers to evacuate them. I had two Corpsmen working with me and knew I needed more surrogates, for the wounded were shoulder to shoulder the full circumference of the passageway.
“While I was on the deck, I got hit by a fifty caliber machine gun bullet to my leg that came from the torpedo boats. I was bleeding into my shoes and not until the next day when I was able to lie down did the bleeding slow down. You know the story of the Incredible Hulk and mother’s who lift cars off of their kids? When you are angry and hurt you can do amazing things.
“If you got one hundred people into my skin that day, probably all of them would have thrown up from the hell that erupted on the LIBERTY. Men were groaning and crying for their mothers, but it was just background noise for me. I was slip sliding as I crossed the bloody deck to get to the Captain who had been hit. McGonagle was leaning back in the Captain’s chair, bleeding from many orifices; some natural and some new ones. I applied battle dressings, started an IV, gave him some morphine and sent an enlisted man to find as many officers as possible to come up to the Bridge and assist him and to watch him for shock. The Captain said, ‘If I sit up, I pass out, but as long as I stay in this position, I am OK.’
“People I had eaten lunch with were dismembered all around me, burned, dead. To this day, every time I have a phone conversation with Phil Tourney, who held the light while, I was operating on Blanchard [4] he tells me he can still see the look in my eyes.
“Everyone in the Navy hierarchy knew we were scapegoats and the Navy would have done anything to exact retribution, but the Navy never got the chance.
“In LBJ’s mind we were just an average day’s losses in Vietnam. I doubt Israel would have attacked without the knowledge or complicity of our State Departments willingness to sacrifice a few hundred sailors to have a ’stabilized’ Middle East and all that oil. Our State Department’s morality and ethics are just slightly below those of a Madame in a house of ill repute or a large scale drug dealer.
“June 8, 1967 was like July 4th in hell without the ice cream…and yes, I agree that it was God that kept us afloat.”
1. Admiral John S. McCain, Silver Star Medal Commendation
2. Read more about Lt. Commander Dave Ed Lewis:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=701&Itemid=180
3. Assault on the Liberty, James M. Ennis, Jr. pages 213, 214, 131, 136, 141, and 142. Reintree Press, 1979.
4. Read more about Blanchard:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=707&Itemid=180
Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author “KEEP HOPE ALIVE” and “Memoirs of a Nice Irish American Girl’s’ Life in Occupied Territory”
Producer “30 Minutes With Vanunu.”