An Assessment of Flight Surgeon Confidence to Perform En Route Care.
Military Medicine · 2019-03-01 · Observational study
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: En Route Care (ERC) is often an ad hoc mission for the USN. In a review of 428 Navy patient transports, a Flight Surgeon (FS) was the sole provider or a member of crew in 118 of the transports. Naval FSs receive approximately 4 hours of didactic ERC training during their 24-week Naval FS course. Regardless, an FS may be caring for a critically ill patient in a helicopter. We conducted a survey to evaluate FS confidence in their ability to perform ERC and to establish their understanding of the training of Search and Rescue Medical Technicians (SMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of FSs completed a needs analysis survey as part of a process improvement project. Flight Surgeons surveyed were actively assigned or had been assigned within the past year to a squadron with Search and Rescue/MEDEVAC capabilities. RESULTS: A total of 25 surveys were completed. An average of 13 (range 0-100) patient transport missions were performed by the respondents. Twenty-five percent reported feeling confident in their ability to provide ERC without senior level direction, while 41% stated they would require direction. Nearly 70% of the FSs surveyed expressed "minimal" or less understanding of the training of the SMT. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey results reveal most FSs are confident in neither their ability to perform ERC nor the ability of their hospital corpsman to provide care during patient movement.
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Tags
Helicopter & air ambulance · Military & tactical · Prehospital physicians · Interfacility & critical care transport · Clinician perspective
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