International flight surgeons train in critical care

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan
  • 311th Human Systems Wing Public Affairs
BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  International flight surgeons from the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine partnered with the Critical Care Air Transport Team course in May to gain experience not otherwise available.

The flight surgeons are a part of the Advanced Aerospace Medicine for International Medical Officers course. This six-month program enhances knowledge of military aerospace medicine by providing exposure to a wide-range of aerospace medical topics, including civil aviation medicine and space medicine.

In addition to many other topics, the AAMIMO students receive one week of classroom instruction on Air Force "fixed wing" aeromedical evacuation and the role of Critical Care Air Transport Teams. After a brief overview of the crucial mission, the learners expressed a desire to participate during an operational mission first-hand, said Lt. Col. Stephen Fecura, Critical Care Air Transport Team course director.

The schedules could accommodate the request. The doctors took part in a simulated aeromedical evacuation mission, from patient retrieval at the Expeditionary Medical Support field site to the inter-theater aeromedical evacuation flight back to the states. This training provided learners with a better understanding of what actually happens before patients arrive for more definitive care.

"We are very lucky to have this opportunity, the equipment you have here is not available in my country," said Egyptian physician, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Ahmed Seraj.

The augmentation of each primary Critical Care Air Transport Team with an extender team composed of two critical care nurses was incorporated in the mission scenario based on patient load and acuity. The extender teams don't include a critical care physician and therefore facilitated the practice of medicine by the AAMIMO doctors. Additionally, the team compositions further supported a collaboration of care with the Critical Care Air Transport Team physicians on the primary teams.

The simulated casualties are retrieved from the field and their injuries are treated and stabilized. When the Critical Care Air Transport Team arrives, a patient report is given, so there is no duplication in efforts and there is a seamless transition of care between medical treatment facilities and providers. Patients are then transported and loaded onto a C-130 Hercules simulator that imitates the flight back to Landstuhl, Germany or the states, Colonel Fecura said.

"This is a win-win situation for everyone, the Critical Care Air Transport Team learners get the experience of working with NATO doctors and the AAMIMO learners get to see what the Critical Care Air Transport Team mission is all about," Colonel Fecura said. "This is as realistic as it gets."

A benefit is the relationships that are developed.

"As we continue to work in a joint environment with coalition forces, it is important that we learn from each other," Colonel Fecura said.

Dr. Pavel Perseo Fajardo, a flight surgeon from Honduras, agrees, "This is a good experience because of the networking. We are building one big family."

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