The 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, can now deploy with confidence in their medical personnel thanks to a memorandum of agreement between Evans Army Community Hospital and UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs.
“I don’t think anyone wants to be deployed with a medical corps that isn’t competently trained or done the surgeries that are required in a combat environment,” said Maj. Christie M. Lang, chief of hospital education and training at Evans ACH. “So we are partnering with Memorial, who does this on a regular basis.”
Evans ACH provides medical care to the Fort Carson military population and their families, which means most patients are young and fit. Most emergency department cases seen aren’t violent injuries commonly found in a combat environment or within the local community. Through this agreement, Evans ACH medical personnel will work side-by-side with their civilian counterparts treating trauma, complex medical cases and honing their skills in preparation of future deployments.
Lange indicated that “This is going to be a huge deal. Without the partnership at Memorial, we are forced to do simulation training. It’s not going to give folks the true hands on experience a level one trauma center can provide.”
Fort Carson does have one of the most sophisticated medical simulation training centers available that include combat sounds and mannequins that simulate breathing. However, the mannequins don’t simulate the drastic and sudden changes that can be seen in critical medical and trauma patients.
Now, after more than three years, Evans ACH is set to send combat medics, nurses and surgeons in March to begin a six-week rotation in the UCHealth Memorial emergency department and surgery suite.
“I’m very excited to see this partnership happening,” said Evans ACH Commander Col. Eric S. Edwards. “This will better prepare our personnel for combat medical care than any medical simulation center.”
According to Lang, Evans ACH personnel will have full access to trauma and complex medical cases. Evans ACH personnel will be there to treat life-threatening injuries and follow a trauma patient from the time they enter the hospital until discharge.
While the agreement is approved, the process of bringing military staff into UCHealth Memorial will require a certain amount of time to perfect in processing and the credentialing system. The first Evans ACH team sent will be small, for now.
“We plan to start with a small team,” said Edwards. “We are looking to expand this program to General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Internal Medicine, once we have a firm process in place.”
Once the processes are seamless, larger teams will be sent. Lang also stated that staff members may have an opportunity to attend a second rotation at a later date.
“This program will produce the most sought-after, ready medical force to support 4ID combat units,” said Edwards. “The individuals selected to participate in this program will be ready to provide life-saving care to Soldiers on the battlefield.”
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2019 12:18 |
| Story ID: | 312956 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, New training on the horizon for Evans ACH, by Alexandra Shea, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
