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First advanced trauma life support course is conducted since Katrina

  • Published
  • By Steve Pivnick
  • 81st Medical Group Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  This month, the 81st Medical Group conducted its first advanced trauma life support course since it was suspended in August 2005 following Hurricane Katrina.

Fifteen students -- physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants -- participated in the three-day course June 7-9.

The training was intended to prepare students to treat traumatic injuries they could encounter while deployed.

According to Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wiese, 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron and ATLS coordinator for the 81st Medical Group, "The course is governed by the American College of Surgeons. Although primarily for providers, it eventually may be audited by nurses and medical technicians."

The training fulfills readiness skills verification for providers that's required before they deploy. It also provides valuable skills to medical residents. Course certification is effective for four years.

"Being able to provide the program at Keesler alleviates the cost of sending providers on temporary duty to other locations to acquire the certification," Sergeant Wiese said.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Valerie Pruitt, course director, remarked, "We were really excited about conducting a course at Keesler again after many years. "
Students in this first session were:

81st Medical Operations Squadron -- Majs. (Drs.) George Kotti, Jennifer Rippon, Kirk Hinkley, Louis Varner and Matthew Carlson; Maj. Michael Wascher; Capts. (Drs.) Mark Burbridge and Catherine Kim; and Capts. Mark Rountree and Robert Brown, 81st Medical Operations Squadron.

81st Surgical Operations Squadron -- Lt. Col. (Dr.) William Moore and Majs. (Drs.) Ryan McHugh and Oscar Currie.

81st AMDS -- Maj. Tracy Hinote.

403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron -- Maj. (Dr.) Brian Friloux.
Course instructors were:

81st MSGS -- Majs. (Drs.) Robert Cromer and Craig Kolasch and Capts. (Drs.) Andrea Blake and Theresa Freeman.

81st MDOS -- Col. (Dr.) Gerald Schwartz.

81st MDG -- Randy Bernhardt.

Major McHugh stated, "It's a good thing to be certified with ATLS as that is becoming a standard."

Colonel Moore said, "This was my first ATLS course ever. It provided beneficial knowledge, especially if I were to deploy. The surgery residents were excellent teachers."

"I found the training to be outstanding," Major Wascher noted. "It was excellent preparation for deployment, but the skills were also very applicable to everyday clinical practice. This was my first time taking ATLS.

Col. (Dr.) Warren Dorlac, ATLS military liaison, was on hand as an observer.

The next course is Sept. 13-15.
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