Military training at civilian trauma centers : The first year's experience with the Regional Trauma Network

• Published in: Military medicine Vol. 163; no. 9; pp. 608 - 614
• Main Authors: KNUTH, T. E, WILSON, A, OSWALD, S. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Association of Military Surgeons 01-09-1998; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological and medical sciences; Costs; Curriculum; Data collection; Directors; Emergency medical care; Fellowships and Scholarships - organization & administration; Humans; Medical sciences; Medical Staff, Hospital - education; Medical Staff, Hospital - psychology; Military Medicine - education; Miscellaneous; Opportunity costs; Orthopedics; Participation; Patients; R&D; Regional Medical Programs; Research & development; Skills; Southeastern United States; Surgeons; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Trauma; Trauma care; Trauma Centers; Traumatology - education; Southeastern United States; United States > US; Human; Treatment; Surgery; Professional practice; Hospital; Military service; Traumatology; Surgeon
• ISSN: 0026-4075; 1930-613X
• DOI: 10.1093/milmed/163.9.608

The Regional Trauma Network was launched in 1996 to provide trauma training opportunities for Army surgeons in the Southeast Regional Medical Command. Training directors at eight civilian level I trauma centers agreed to allow military surgeons to function at the fellowship level of responsibility for up to 30 days at a time. In the first year, 7 surgeons participated in rotations at five different centers and 13 surgeons attended nationally recognized trauma symposia. The response from participating civilian and military participants has been overwhelmingly positive as confidence and enthusiasm for treating seriously injured patients are refreshed. Significant lessons were learned in providing good clinical training experiences, administering a regional program, and measuring the costs and benefits of additional readiness training. Although the data collection processes were devised to capture both the actual and the opportunity costs of training at civilian centers, more participants are needed before a conclusive analysis can be made. A joint services effort on a regional basis and support throughout the chain of command are key to strengthening the surgical readiness training program.