MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Second Medical Battalion held a three-day Medical Regulating Course April 21 to 23 at their headquarters building.
The course aimed to teach Marines and sailors from 2d Medical Battalion about pre-existing and new procedures for in-garrison operations and deployments.
Over time, previous procedures and protocols for various situations change due to either technology improvements or the needs for alternate procedures.
Instructors for this course were Navy Lieutenants Ed Jimenez, the program manager for the course, and Kevin J.P. Wetzel, the commanding officer of C Surgical Company, 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The first two days of the course included eight hours of extensive classroom lectures and digital media slide shows, but on the final day, the instructors took the students outside to conduct a field exercise working with medical communications.
The course, sponsored by Surface Warfare Medicine Institute based out of Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, provides students with the knowledge and skills required to complete their job successfully. Training includes techniques of medical regulating, patient movement, operations, Health Service Support assets, planning, and communications unique to the Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the joint operations arena.
The institute supports operational medical readiness for surface forces through training, consultation, research and resource publication.
One new development in the field of medical regulating is the expanded use of TRICARE’s program International SOS.
International SOS is one of the fastest growing, best managed international health care companies for coordinating and providing quality medical and dental services overseas, according to Wetzel. With more than 20 years of experience, International SOS has offices in 66 countries with 250 full-time physicians and a medical referral network in more than 175 countries.
“International SOS allows us to contact sufficient hospitals anywhere on the globe,” said Jimenez. “It helps us get the injured back to good health as quickly as possible.”
International SOS used to be accessible only in parts of Asia and the Middle East, but now the organization is worldwide.
“International SOS has helped us a great deal in the past and no doubt will continue to give us exemplary capabilities in the future,” said Jimenez.
Another improvement in the world of Naval medicine is treating Marines and sailors who might have multiple medical problems after returning from a deployment.
The Post-Deployment Healthcare Center was developed by the Deployment Health Clinical Center as a resource for clinicians, veterans and their families. Their goal is to create a trusting partnership between servicemembers, veterans, their families and their providers to ensure the highest quality care.
After assessing the current evaluation programs for veterans of the Gulf War, the Institute of Medicine endorsed the systematic set of guidelines for the new program.
The institute emphasized the need to focus evaluation and care of deployed forces at the primary care-level.
The IOM treats returning Marines and sailors for various stresses and post-war risk factors.
Since research studies show numerous problems among deployed forces after returning home, the IOM recommended standardized guidelines address the need for screening the servicemembers.
The course teaches students all procedures they need to know to successfully tend to and treat wounded Marines and sailors.
Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a certificate and the 2nd Edition Medical Regulating/Patient Movement Reference Tool CD. Priority seating is available for personnel assigned to the operating forces or one of the mobilization platforms including the Fleet Marine Force, Casualty Receiving and Treatment Ships, Hospital Ships and Fleet Hospitals.
Attending the Medical Regulating/Patient Movement Course will entitle servicemembers to Continuing Medical Education credit, and they will receive credit from various organizations depending on their acceptance guidelines. The Naval Medical Education & Training Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians throughout their career. The NMETC designates this educational activity for one credit toward the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award, and takes full responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this course.