‘Blu-Med’ provides mobile patient reception

Published Feb. 3, 2011
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Medical Group has a new mobile tool at its disposal to support a variety of disaster field response mission requirements.

The "Blu-Med" system consists of a 28-foot trailer and tents that can be erected almost anywhere to support National Disaster Medical System Federal Coordinating Center patient reception area operations, serve as an alternatemedical facility, provide isolation capabilities and offer contingency expansion requirements.

"This system is compatible with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, National Guard units, National Fire Department and Veterans Affairs disaster response tent assemblages," according to Robert Tash, 81st Medical Support Squadron readiness flight NDMS FCC emergency management area coordinator. "It meets the requirement to have an equipment package to support Keesler's FCC patient reception area mission."

To aid setup operations, a newly-established 14-member cadre team of medical group
personnel was trained Jan. 19 as setup facilitators supporting three separate medical missions: air show medical support, emergency room expansion and NDMS FCC patient reception area requirements. Mr. Tash noted the newly-trained team will assist annual setup training exercises to maintain proficiency with the system.

Mr. Tash added, "Blu-Med can be used to help meet existing FCC PRAmission requirements and strengthen the 81st Training Wing's overall homeland defense posture. It will enable the 81st MDG patient reception area team to deploy rapidly to a pre-designated airfield and establish patient reception activities in support of FEMA NDMS operations and training."

The cadre team set up the system in a 24-bed configuration in an area behind the hospital's emergency department. Homero Elizondo, a representative of Alaska Shelter Systems, Blu-Med manufacturer, instructed the team how to assemble the two large tents plus a third, smaller shelter using a train-the-trainer approach.

The trailer included in the package serves as a command and control communications
center and is used for storing the tents and generators when the system is not in use.
Assembly included installing power, lights, environmental control units, setting up two
generators and putting together the 24 contingency beds.

The initial effort took four hours, but Mr. Tash expects the setup time to be reduced to two to three hours as the team receives additional training. In addition to powering the facility, the two generators can accommodate and power most medical equipment required in
a disaster.

Ultimately the system will help save lives, Mr. Tash pointed out.

"Previously, Keesler's FCC patient reception area operations were completely reliant
upon outside civilian agency support, such as the DMATs," he explained. This 'mobile'
assemblage now enables the medical group to deploy autonomously and rapidly the
minimum essential equipment to meet its mission."

"FEMA DMAT medical teams, National Guard units and Veterans Affairs use their specific equipment for FCC PRA activities and patient care," Mr. Tash continued. "Mission requirements dictate that 81st MDG patient reception area equipment seamlessly integrate with other responding agencies to ensure maximum interoperability with minimum set-up time. At $190,000, this equipment provides that seamless integration
capability and allows for multi-purpose assistance from routine patient care to FCC contingency operations. The equipment can be set up in a hangar, at an airfield or most remote areas."

He mentioned the Blu-Med manufacturer also provides expeditionary medical support tent packages to the Air Force which makes the Keesler system compatible with EMEDS.
It also is adaptable for use with similar equipment froma different manufacturer employed by other area medical emergency responders.