After graduating from the Military Technical Academy in 2014, Nguyen Thi Tam was assigned to work at Military Hospital 4. Her initial days on the job were a challenging time for a young engineer as she first encountered a modern, diverse, and highly specialized system of medical equipment. “Initially, I struggled because while the knowledge I learned at school was there, applying it to practice was not simple. Many devices I had never encountered, and I didn't even understand their operating principles. I had to independently search for documents, learn from colleagues, and persistently research to master the technology,” Major Nguyen Thi Tam shared.

With a proactive attitude, perseverance, and passion for her profession, she quickly mastered various types of machinery and equipment, from simple to modern. For her, repairing and maintaining equipment is not only a professional task but also a responsibility to contribute to ensuring safety and improving the effectiveness of medical examinations and treatments. "Every piece of equipment that functions stably during a surgery is another chance of survival for the patient," she said.

Major Nguyen Thi Tam checks the technical condition of the Bio-Rad centrifuge before use.

One particularly memorable experience for her was when the endoscope malfunctioned during prostate surgery on an elderly patient with underlying cardiovascular disease. At a crucial stage of the operation, the endoscope suddenly stopped working. Upon receiving an urgent notification from the surgical team, she immediately arrived, promptly inspected the device, and quickly resolved the issue within minutes, allowing the surgery to continue smoothly. The surgery was successful, and she and the entire team breathed a sigh of relief. This was just one of many times she silently "kept the equipment running," contributing to patient safety.

To achieve this, Major Nguyen Thi Tam dedicated considerable time and effort to working with the machinery and equipment. Many nights, even after 10 PM, she would still be diligently working in the technical room, meticulously checking every detail of the machines to ensure the safety of the surgeries the following day.

Beyond ensuring technical expertise, she proactively researched, explored, and innovated to improve work efficiency. One of her notable achievements is the "Semi-Automatic Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis Support Machine." This device allows for the measurement of blood pressure in all four limbs, and through automated modules, it shortens the time and improves the accuracy of diagnosing peripheral artery disease, while saving significantly on costs compared to previous manual methods.

Commenting on this initiative, Major Dr. Nguyen Nhat Tam, Deputy Head of the Department of Cardiology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Respiratory and Endocrinology at Military Hospital 4, said: “Major Tam’s semi-automatic peripheral artery disease diagnosis device has high practical value. The device helps detect dangerous diseases early, especially those related to coronary arteries and stroke, contributing to improved treatment quality for patients.”

With a love for her profession and a passion for innovation, Major Nguyen Thi Tam has created many effective inventions that have been applied in practice, such as: a control circuit for the spotlight of an X-ray machine; a temperature control and display unit for microbiological culture cabinets; a mobile sample storage cabinet; and a medicinal herb washing machine... Sharing about her research process, Major Tam said: “Turning an idea into a complete product is not a simple process. There were times when I thought I was on the right track, but the results were not as expected, forcing me to adjust the design, or even start over. There were times when I felt discouraged, but thinking about the benefits for patients, I was determined to pursue it to the end...”

Speaking about his colleague, Lieutenant Colonel Dang Ngoc Thanh, Head of the Equipment Department, said: “Major Nguyen Thi Tam is a skilled engineer with solid expertise, always proactive in her work, and actively learning and researching innovations. Her initiatives not only save costs but also improve the quality of technical support, effectively serving the examination and treatment work at the hospital.”

Through her tireless efforts, Major Nguyen Thi Tam has been awarded numerous commendations, certificates of merit, the title of "Outstanding Soldier at the grassroots level," and many other prestigious awards. In particular, her initiatives and innovations have won many important awards, such as the Nguyen Viet Xuan Award at the Military Region level and the "Youth Innovation Award in the Army." Sharing about her achievements, Major Nguyen Thi Tam humbly stated that it is thanks to the care and support of her unit's leaders and commanders, her comrades, and especially the companionship and encouragement of her family and loved ones. This has become a great source of motivation for her to continue striving and contributing even more.

Text and photos: TRÀ MY

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/dong-luc-de-phan-dau-829720