United States, Australia, India train to improve medical care in Pacific

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Thirty-two critical care specialists from the United States, Australia and India trained on the movement of severely ill patients in the Pacific during the Joint Medical Attendant Transport Team training course held here May 11-15.

The JMATT course, hosted by Thirteenth Air Force's Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center-Pacific, the aeromedical evacuation regulating organization for U.S. Pacific Command, focused on the aeromedical evacuation of critical care patients and equipment proficiency skills.

"This course is a great opportunity for our Air Force, Army and Navy medics to gain valuable training that will be needed to support on-going requirements in the PACOM area of responsibility," said Lt. Col. Dr. Lynda Vu, validating flight surgeon for TPMRC-P. "It will also give us the opportunity to collaborate and train alongside medical personnel from the Royal Australian and India Air Forces, who continue to be valued partners."

There is a 5,300-nautical-mile distance in the theater between Okinawa, Japan and California, as well as, limited divert options across the Pacific Ocean both of which pose challenges to the safe air transport of critically ill patients, said Colonel Vu.

"This course ensures our medical teams use the safest measures in transporting patients in the PACOM AOR," she said.

In addition to training U.S. Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors, six civilian members of Hawaii's Disaster Medical Assistance Team, a physician and nurse from the Royal Australian Air Force and a physician from the Indian Air Force attended the course.

"It is important that we exchange techniques and methods for transporting critically ill patients," said Wing Commander Ajay Handa, a pulmonologist from the Indian Air Force. "Having managed critically ill patients in the hospital, I know it is a different experience aboard an aircraft. So one can learn from the experiences that the Pacific Air Forces have perfected and have put into practice."

Colonel Vu said additional support for this course was provided by many agencies including active duty Air Force, Hawaii Air National Guard units, and civilian agencies.

Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center Pacific hosted the inaugural Joint Medical Attendant Transport Team training course in September 2008 and plans to host two session of the course annually in the future. Three neonatal specialists from the 18th Medical Group, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, introduced a new neonatal intensive care transport teaching module to the course as well.

"This course is a success because of the joint efforts of personnel from multiple agencies," Colonel Vu said. "We would not be able to provide such a broad, high-quality experience for our participants without the help from our joint colleagues"