Interfacility Transfer Teams: A Pilot Study to Assess Viability as a Skill Sustainment Platform.

INTRODUCTION: A US Naval hospital in the remote Pacific region has developed interfacility transfer (IFT) teams staffed by active duty personnel out of necessity due to a large percentage of critically ill patients requiring IFT and a lack of local resources. The IFT program underwent significant improvements in training and quality assurance in 2017. We sought to assess patient safety when transport was performed by our locally sourced and trained IFT teams. En route care (ERC) is a recognized critical capability gap in the US Navy requiring clinicians with current knowledge and skills to maintain competency. IFT programs may be a viable skill sustainment program for ERC clinicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database was created as part of the quality assurance program to collate information on patient demographics, level of care provided, reason for transport, and interventions provided by the transporting team. A retrospective review of these data was conducted with emphasis on the appropriateness of patient management and skill sustainment for active duty personnel. The project was deemed institutional review board exempt. RESULTS: Of the 1,193 patient care reports reviewed, interventions were required in 128 (10.7%) of patients and 58 (4.9%) required ventilator management. Medical deterioration occurred during 22 (1.8%) of the transports, with 20 (90.9%) of the deterioration episodes managed appropriately. No patient harm occurred. CONCLUSIONS: IFT teams with local training were able to safely transport critically ill patients with no adverse outcomes, defined as direct harm to the patients as a result of transport. Patient care during transports included routine interventions, ventilator management, and troubleshooting of patient deteriorations. Our data further suggest IFT programs may be a viable skill sustainment platform for ERC clinicians.

Regionalization of EMS Medical Direction for Naval Medical Forces Pacific.

INTRODUCTION: Medical direction has been the cornerstone to safe and effective prehospital and enroute care since the establishment of emergency medical services (EMS). Medical oversight by a physician has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in both settings. When the Navy Regional Office of the EMS Medical Director was established in 2016, it brought additional resources, including the addition of a paramedic and nurse EMS analyst and recruitment of additional local medical directors (LMDs). This, combined with the engagement of military leadership, allowed for expansion and improvement of medical direction in our prehospital and enroute care system and the establishment of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2017, a database was created to collect total run volume, acuity of calls, number of certain time-sensitive conditions, and CQI performance. A retrospective review of this database was conducted. This project was deemed institutional review board exempt. RESULTS: LMD reports that submission went from 17% for 2017 to 64% for 2018, 91% for 2019, and 79% for 2020. In 2019, 67% of the sites had verifiable CQI programs and, in 2020, this improved to 80% of sites. The review also revealed insight into levels of acuity seen by prehospital and enroute care providers. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that improvement in medical oversight in a large regional prehospital system can be achieved through persistence and engagement of nonmedical leadership.

Bean Bag Projectile Causing Ocular Compartment Syndrome, Intracranial Hemorrhage, and Facial Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Bean bag rounds are a commonly used nonlethal projectile. Although they are generally reported to cause mild to moderate soft tissue injury, the potential for more serious injuries is only partially explored and may even be underappreciated. Injuries to the face, eyes, and head and their potential to inflict serious consequences, or even fatalities, are not well established. CASE REPORT: We present a case of severe head trauma caused by a bean bag round. Injuries included ocular compartment syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, depressed skull fracture, and multiple facial fractures. Emergency department management of this patient required lateral canthotomy, intubation for airway protection, and management of suspected elevated intracranial pressure. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although typically not regarded as serious, injuries caused by bean bag rounds have the potential to threaten life, limb, and vision. Emergency physicians should be aware of these possibilities, especially when the head is impacted, and should be prepared to perform critical actions and emergent procedures as needed. In addition, if not at a major trauma center, the emergency physician needs to be aware of the time-sensitive interventions required prior to transfer.

An Assessment of Flight Surgeon Confidence to Perform En Route Care.

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.