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Joint helo training enhances medevac effectiveness

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The volume of noise from the spinning helicopter rotors and harsh winds nearly drowned out the words "ready, lift!" as members of the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group transferred patients to and from a MH-60 Sierra helicopter here July 22.

In an effort to enhance medical readiness capabilities, the 386th EMDG was conducting helo-interface refresher training here, employing a U.S. Navy helicopter to provide a realistic experience for medical group Airmen. Because of the Air Force's need to provide rapid emergency care for wounded troops, litter training is a must, explained Maj. Donna Hornberger, chief nurse for the 386th EMDG.

"It's important that we practice, because when we actually have a patient is not the time to learn," she said.

The refresher training also helps keep patients at ease, explained Capt. Melissa Ellis-Yarian, a flight surgeon assigned to the 386th EMDG, because the Airmen providing care have more confidence in the way they perform their jobs. Communication between the MH-60 crew and the Airmen can be difficult because of the extent of helicopter noise, for example, but the training gives them the opportunity to become more adept with hand gestures and signals.

"It is all about communication," she said. "It's about knowing which person is making the call (to move), listening to those calls and moving in sync. That's what ensures patient safety. Everybody out here is strong enough to be able to carry a litter, but problems happen when there is miscommunication and someone doesn't know who is directing. So that is what we eliminate by doing this training."

The training familiarized not only medics here on loading and extraction techniques, but also other Airmen in the medical group who don't normally experience day-to-day interaction with patients.

The cross-training is partly in response to recent staff reductions in the medical group, which has the unique mission of providing 24-hour emergency medical healthcare for troops stationed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility while also operating a Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, or CASF. The CASF serves as a gateway for patients who are scheduled for aeromedical evacuation to Germany or the United States for further medical treatment.

Cross-training has become essential to providing patient care in this deployed location, added Captain Ellis-Yarian. The medical technicians have learned to run certain labs and the x-ray technicians have learned to assist in dental procedures. Everyone as a team has stepped up to support the mission, and as a result also has a greater appreciation for the big picture and understanding other team members' roles in patient care.

"At any time of the day or night, we can get a call saying a helo is coming, and we have to go out there and handle that," Captain Ellis-Yarian said. "We may have to pull (Airmen) from other sections, so it's important they know how to transfer patients, too.

Major Hornberger believes that adapting to a more flexible mindset has helped make a big difference in the efficiency of patient care here.

"You will never hear, 'Oh, that's not my job,' since we have been working together," she said. "We are busier, but now with the support we have from the different sections, we can do in 12 hours what used to take us two days."

Major Hornberger and Captain Ellis-Yarian expressed their appreciation to their joint partners for helping make the litter-transfer training possible, saying they look forward to more joint training in the future.

"The Navy has been extremely accommodating," Major Hornberger said. "The biggest coordination effort was getting out to a location, and I can't thank the U.S. Navy, Airfield Management and the 386th Operations Group enough for helping us out."