KEITH LONG COMPLETES ADVANCED ARMY RESERVE TRAINING
Keith Long, PA-C, a physician assistant from Madras Medical Group (MMG), has completed his Officer Basic Leadership Training for the Army Reserve. The training took place at Fort Sam Houston in Austin , TX in October through November. Currently, Long is a First Lieutenant in the Reserve and was recently nominated for a promotion to Captain.
The training is for Army and Army Reserve medical personnel who have specialized skills to run small, mobile medical teams that can provide advance trauma care in combat zones. They also triage and prepare injured soldiers for transport to military hospitals and continued definitive care
This is the last training Long had to complete before being deployed. His first deployment is scheduled for approximately the month of August 2010. Because he is a member of the Army Professional Medical Corps (APMC), his deployment will be for 90 days instead of the typical 14 months. The APMC was established so that medical professionals can still serve and will be allowed to maintain their practice.
Long belongs to the 7229 Forward Medical Support Unit based at Ft. Lewis in Tacoma , Washington . He does his monthly obligation of two weekends per month training at the Bend National Guard Armory, 82nd Squadron.
“I’m very lucky to have been able to do my monthly obligation locally. Major Mark Maddox, Major Caughrn and Captain Nixon and many other soldiers at the Bend National Guard have been instrumental in allowing me the ability to serve my country and also continue to practice family medicine in my community,” said Long.
All of this training and hard work has also come to benefit his local patients in Madras .
“I want to help bridge the gap for service families and veterans in our community. It can be hard for them to find medical care and MMG accepts their most common forms of insurance, Tricare/Triwest. And most importantly, I hope that my experience allows me to speak a common language and provides me an understanding of the life and hardships they may face,” explained Long.
Madras Medical Group (MMG) is located at 76 NE 12th St, Madras, OR. MMG offers continuing, premier, full-family care for patients of all ages coordinated with an emphasis on superior quality. Other family medicine specialty interests include complete maternity care including C-sections, preventative health for adults and children, care for chronic conditions and diseases, and end of life care. To schedule an appointment, call 541-475-3874.