Brig.-Gen. Norvell V. Coots, Commander, United States Europe Regional Medical Command (ERMC) paid a professional visit to the HDF Medical Centre on June 27.

There is a long-standing and close professional relationship between the two organizations, in the framework of which they have already organized several joint courses and training events, and the American–Hungarian Military Medicine Conference, which has taken place annually for more than 20 years.

For this reason, Maj.-Gen. István Szabó, Commander, HDF Medical Centre invited Brig.-Gen. Coots – and the delegation headed by him – to visit the institution. At the time of the visit, the American guests were staying in Hungary as participants of the Force Health Protection NATO Conference organized by the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (NATO MILMED COE).

The American guests were introduced to the organization, structure and hospital capabilities of the HDF Medical Centre, the significance of the Hungarian Defence Forces Medical Service, the role of the Hungarian Defence Forces in foreign missions and their medical support.

The introduction of the hospital units started with the recently opened clinical demonstration unit. Here, the guests were shown round by SFC Klára Dakó, and learned about the new hands-on training opportunities of the hospital. In what followed, Dr. Krisztina Borbély introduced them to the workings of the central radiology diagnostic unit and its technical equipment.

The visit continued at the burn surgery department, where Col. Dr. Csaba Halmy informed the guests about the treatment and the related statistics, and then showed them the equipment and activities of the department as well as some cases which present medical challenges.

In closing the professional program, Lt.-Col. Lajos Varga guided the members of the delegation to the heliport – which is designed to receive injured patients arriving by air – and also introduced them to the automated guided vehicles (AGV), which represent the exceptional standards of the technical equipment of the institution.