Maine Medics Merge at Medical Symposium

Photo By Sgt. Jarod Dye | Soldiers from the Maine National Guard practice their medical skills in an airway lab as part of a training at the 240th Regiment (RTI) in Bangor April 1, 2017. The training was part of the first ever combat medic training symposium consisting of every combat medic from Maine.  

BANGOR, ME, UNITED STATES

04.01.2017

Story by Spc. Jarod Dye 

121st Public Affairs Detachment

For the first time in the history of the Maine Army National Guard, all combat medics gathered to conduct a medical training symposium.
The training, held at the 240th Regiment (RTI) in Bangor, consisted of outdoor training including live MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) flights with a UH-60 Black Hawk as well as indoor medical simulations and presentations.
“This is going to be a good refresher,” said Capt. Matthew Picard, an organizer of the event and a physician’s assistant with the MEARNG Medical Detachment. “Medical skills in general are extremely perishable, if you don’t practice putting a needle in for IV’s, you’re not going to be able to do it.”
Other training included ear and eye exams, mental health instruction, litter carrying, even instruction on how to deliver an infant.
Combat medics are often associated with being only trained for trauma, however they do far more.
“We can either work in the hospital, out in the field, on helicopters, we are just an all-around military medical jack of all trades,” said Staff Sgt. Randall Bowen, a combat medic with the 185th Engineer Support Company.
Regardless of their assigned position in the hospital or unit, they all help physicians.
“Medics are the first line eyes and ears at the initial point of contact, for them to have a good set of assessment skills helps me do my job better.” Maj. Jonathan Bausman, a physician with the MEARNG Medical Detachment.
The event was organized almost entirely by Maine medical staff in order to focus the training goals.
“It’s the first time they’ve done a National Guard-led conference or symposium in the country, it has never been done before,” said Picard.
The benefits of this training are clear and seem to be agreed upon by the participants.
“There’s a ton of knowledge and competent providers and professionals in the state so we’re bringing them all together to put on a pretty good series,” said Picard. “We get to showcase what people know and what they’re competent in and then teach those skills to others”
Sharing their skills has helped fill in knowledge gaps that may have previously existed.
“We’re doing an airway lab, suturing, and assessment skills,” said Bausman. “We’re trying to get the medics a chance to do the cognitive, classroom based training but to also do the hands on training and really get their hands back on the medical equipment,”
The medics, however, are not the only ones who benefited from these events.
“It’s really challenged us as instructors to be better officers and providers and hopefully the medics will have developed their skill sets and what they have in their clinical tool bag as they advance their careers.” said Picard.
The training was very well received by the approximately 70 combat medics who participated in the event.
“This has probably been some of the best medical training that I have received, we should definitely stay with it,” said Bowen.

• Date Taken: 04.01.2017
• Date Posted: 04.02.2017 15:10
• Story ID: 228905
• Location: BANGOR, ME, US
• Hometown: BANGOR, ME, US