Sams not only had all the necessary critical equipment, but she was also equipped with her trauma surgery experience. “During the flight, we provided continual renal replacement therapy, which the Soldier needed to withstand the 20-hour flight and ensure he would not suffer a cardiac arrest or other significant event during the flight.” “Practicing at a level 1 trauma center in my daily, in-garrison job allows me to maintain the proficiency and resiliency needed to perform when called upon,” said Sams. She and her team were ready within two hours of getting the call to fly out to Bagram and bring the Soldier home. Sams was one of the surgeons on the unprecedented 20-hour aeromedical evacuation flight. Valerie Sams, the trauma medical director at Brooke Army Medical Center at San Antonio, Texas. “What makes us unique is we translate that capability to a dark, noisy aircraft at 35,000 feet.” “We have medics who are experienced at taking care of patients inside a facility,” said Marks. Robert Marks, command surgeon, Air Mobility Command, explains medical Airmen deliver the same exceptional care on an airplane as they do in a clinic. “As an osteopath, I help pilots with preventative care, mitigating the impact years of flying has on their body.”īrig. “Pilots, like those who fly the F-16, are under high stresses and have conditions equivalent to what we see in high performance athletes,” said Ferraro. Rather than wait for his patients to come to him once they are injured, he goes to them to keep them in fighting form. Michael Ferraro, a family physician with the Operational Medicine Clinic at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, caring for operational Airmen means getting out to the flight line regularly.įerraro works in a neck and back clinic for pilots and understands their medical issues and needs. “Our challenge is keeping our medics ready to complete those missions.”įor Capt. Mark Koeniger, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency commander. “Air Force medics not only deliver deployed medicine in the back of a plane and downrange, they also support Airmen who fight from U.S. To keep Airmen in the flight, the Air Force’s core capabilities are aeromedical evacuation, battlefield medicine, and aerospace medicine. Air Force medics stay ready to answer that call and “fight tonight” by maintaining clinical currency and proficiency through treating patients and readiness training. While the length of this mission was challenging and unprecedented, this is the type of mission the Air Force prepares to execute every day, delivering ready medical support to operational forces. With a C-17 Globemaster III crew and refueling aircraft positioned along the way, 18 medics, including a Critical Care Air Transport Team, moved the patient direct from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.Īt every stage and under strenuous conditions, Airmen delivered exceptional care to save a life.
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